My son has been offered a job in Lake Placid in a service related industry.

I am trying to help him with a list of pros/cons before he accepts the job.

I am very concerned that the cost of living difference between Lake Placid and Memphis, TN is going to be hard for him to adapt to.

He knows going into it that he can't take any firearms with him, so for this discussion we are more concerned with daily life, cost of living issues, etc.

Work has him so busy that he hardly has time to shoot much as it is.

He will need to rent an apartment there, and from my research so far, there doesn't seem to be many choices.

We would welcome any insight about living in that area including where to buy groceries, the cost of living, taxes, crime, utilities, the weather, etc.

He has no children so schools are not an issue.

Thanks in advance for helping him make the biggest career decision of his life.

*UPDATE*

He got the job. They got him where he needed to be with salary, benefits, and moving expenses, and he will be moving soon.

More details below in latest post.

Beautiful part of NY.

He can take guns with him, just no handguns until he gets a permit...and long guns need to be unsafe act compliant. Basically no evil features on semi autos if it has a detachable mag...and 10 round mags or less.

Placid is really nice in the Summer (Memorial day to Labor Day) so much so, all the 'tards from NYC, NJ, CT, MA, etc. like to come up with their tourist dollars.
Cold is all in your perception, and believe me he'll perceive it as COLD!
Handguns are a no-go until you've a Handgun Licenses, which will outside of Law Enforcement will be damn difficult to obtain at least for a few years. EBR's: well anything that's got a pistol grip or other previously allowed evil features are also a no-go, but there are a few work around that seem to be acceptable.
Terrain and people are pretty much like VT or Canada, Aboriginals have always been very nice to us, no so to others, but that's mostly personality I suppose.
Most of my compatriots that will chime in, will admonish him for even considering coming to NY, and I too have definitive plans to make TN or AL my new home in the next year or two.
The saving grace is it's so far North that's it's quiet, really another world up there, absolutely gorgeous, but alas, NY State has it's high taxes, Nanny State, up-your-ass about everything that the beauty cannot outweigh the loss of freedom.
Choose wisely.  

The greatest costs are housing and taxes.

I suspect taxes will be higher;  the data of TN vs NY should be readily available.

I doubt he will live in LP.  He will have to live in a nearby town and commute.   My concern here is that he'll be living where there is not much to do and not many people like him.


His potential employer should be able to provide him with housing information.

Thanks for the replies so far.

I am worried the isolation of the area is going to give him cabin fever during the winter.

He doesn't ski and isn't exactly the outdoor adventure type.

He would rather play trivia at a bar with friends, go hang out at a restaurant or go to a movie or see a band.


I have also heard there aren't any wal-marts or other department stores in Lake Placid.

Realistically, how far would he have to drive to enjoy the amenities of a larger city for entertainment and shopping?

Plattsburgh is a small city about 35 to 45 minutes away. There is a mall and Wal-Mart there with a couple other plazas with chain restaurants. It's also a college town, so there are younger folks. Based on what you said, that may be a better option for him. I have a cabin north of Lake Placid so I know the area pretty well. It's gorgeous. Maybe he'll discover the outdoors.

My take on Placid.  

You have hoi polloi hotels, fancy boutiques and restaurants on the main thoroughfares.  Some middle class houses and some real dumps for service workers and fringe living people.   I've never lived there but I did work there a little bit in another life.  The kind of place that has local diners that have two menus in the busy season,  The high priced tourist menu and a locals menu with your normal not rape you prices.  Yea it's that kind of town.

Also when you see the record lows on winter days in NYS  it's usually Saranac Lake with Placid the runner up.  It's always cold up there.  Hell they had snow fall a week or two ago.

If he can make good money and live in a shoebox for a while to build up some cash I say go for it.   He will pay high income taxes so he better figure that in before he figures on that high NY income.  Off the top of my head it's like another  7% off the top for NY's coffers.  Then figure 7-8% sales on most everything besides unprepared food.  Also more taxes on fuel which is high here.

If he's not into the outdoors, it will be isolating.
It may be a good time to broaden his experience to outdoor activitiies.

It's a drop dead gorgeous area, always hub-bub in Lake Placid due to wiinter Olympic training.

I love to hike, so it is a playground to me... I like to stay in a nearby town of Wilmington.

Plattsburgh is the closest big town, medium sized mall with a Gander Mountain a Dicks that always has. 22LR and colleege coeds.

Best of luck to your son!

We will see him in August during the Lacrosse madness!  That place is a zoo in the summer.  Prices are stupid, we're at 250 a night for a room for the week I just booked last week.  We'll say hi if we see him.  Hey, what the hell, let him try it for a while and see if he likes it.  If not, move on.  Good luck.

To put it simply if he is ok with no firearm freedom, it is a beautiful area but do not even think of moving unless his pay increase is a minimum of 50% more than his current rate!
So if he is making say 50k in TN unless the move means his pay will increase to a minimum of 75k he will actually LOSE money moving. This can some times be a hard concept for people outside of New York to understand
I should be moving out of NY in 2-3 months and Only a multimillion dollar winning lottery ticket that required NY residency to collect would get me back here!

Placid is has a lot to offer, lots of restaurants and bars and a lot of outdoor activities.  If he likes hiking and/or paddling there're a ton of places to go at all skill levels.  There's two grocery stores in town, Hannafords and Price Chopper, and as was mentioned before Plattsburgh isn't very far away for any real shopping he needs to do.  Burlington, VT is just two hours and a ferry ride across Lake Champlain, they have a nice downtown with lots of events.  And if he really wants the big city, Montreal is just a little over 2 hours to the north.

 Finding a nice apartment can be challenging, but if you spend enough time looking you should be able to find a reasonable place to stay.  There are a lot of rental cabins around and now being the off season you should be able to get a decent rate and stay there until you find an apartment you like.  Don't forget to bring some bug dope the black flies are just starting to come out and can drive someone not used to them absolutely crazy.

If he can, living in nearby towns will be cheaper.
I really like Wilmington area and Saranac Lake, though it's somewhat remote.

For cheaper, look into Saranac Lake, Wilmington or Keene.

North Elba too.

Not rip-roaring towns, cheaper.

I'm in love with the Adirondacks.
Amazing.

Come to me.....



-The Adirondacks.

I have a place up there ,it,s a beautiful place & can
get really cold I'm talking alaska cold minus 40 at night
he'll be in for a shock once winter roll's around .

He was offered 40K before taxes.

I don't think with a car payment, cell phone, and normal living expenses like groceries, rent, gas, etc. that he can make it for under 49K, and he should really probably make 55K to have a cushion and allow for some savings.

Especially when you consider that between Federal Income tax, and NY state tax, he is going to lose about 25-27% of his income.

Am I wrong on that?

So his take home will be $35,000 a year for living up in the frozen, expensive, oppressive north.

Sounds about right...

Outside the "tourist traps" living up North isn't as costly as the Cities, or especially NYC (five hrs. S.)
Prambo lives in Tupper....I'll send him a link, maybe he'll chime in.  Economically its a bit depressed. When Plattsburg AFB closed up so went a lot of money. Alcoa and GM were also big suppliers to the economy that have since shuttered.....there's a casino or two up there, IMHO its a lot like the Rural parts of TN well outside places like Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga,... think Pulaski or Lynchburg.

Cold as fuck in winter
Ive been once, meh.

40K and he DOESN'T like backcountry recreation??  I'd advise he keep looking.  Most young people that work service jobs up there do so almost exclusively to pursue their outdoor hobbies.  Hiking, paddling, fishing, rock/ice climbing, skiing.....  In NY it is a Mecca for the outdoor enthusiast.

There are two seasons in the Adks, winter and black fly season.  While there is a vibrant night life for young people up there, good food, good micro brew, even a small theater.  I can't imagine him liking it if he doesn't enjoy the mountains.  During the special events Placid is an absolute zoo.

Also, finding rentals for the summer can be real difficult.  He might find something for the next month or two but some of the rentals hold out for special events like the equestrian show or iron man.  They can make a summers worth of rent in one or two weeks!  He'd likely have to find someplace in Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake, Ausable Forks (not for the faint of heart), Keeseville or into Clinton County towards Plattsburgh.....which means commuting.  Winter time can double your drive time.  Snow tires required.

Unless this opportunity has some serious potential for him to advance a career my advice is to look elsewhere.  It doesn't sound lucrative, nor a good fit.  40K is not bad money for the north country, but I'm not sure it's worth transplanting from TN.  Many of us freedom loving NYers are actually thinking of the inverse of that migration....

I lived near there for eight years, absolutely beautiful country if you love the mountains, rivers and lakes......not so much if you're more of a indoor person......

If you don't mind me asking, who is the potential employer? (Feel free to IM me if you don't want to open post it).  Best of luck to your son.

UR

I'm going to start my own program instead of Start-Up-NY  its going to be called Stay-Out-Of-NY Not because we don't like people its that we just don't want people to be abused and feel Un-Safe here. This is one of the few states that makes it know it doesn't like gun owners and some other infamous insulting wording used by the head of the Nazi party.


Stay-Out -Of NY.com

HE GOT THE JOB!

He negotiated a much better deal, and they got his salary, benefits, and moving expenses up to where we both feel more comfortable.

He will be moving soon, and luckily his company can provide him a hotel room for up to two months while he searches for a place to rent.

What do we need to know in advance to help him prepare for the move?

He was told to try to get a rental property that is on the Lake Placid electrical grid because it is more reliable in bad weather and costs less per month than the outlying areas.

Please tell me about any restaurants in the area that cater to locals and offer a local discount. He won't have a kitchen in the hotel, and eating at restaurants during peak summer tourist season is going
to get really expensive in a hurry.

Anybody have a nice two bedroom cabin or apartment they want to rent?

Please tell me about any rental storage places that are reputable.

Tell us about crime, any areas to avoid, or other personal safety issues.

Now that we know for sure that he is moving, I am trying to think of everything he needs to know to make sure this goes smoothly.

Thanks again for all of your responses and for helping this nervous dad to send his last baby bird out of the nest.

Unfortunately I can't help you with your questions, but just wanted to say congrats to your son and I hope he enjoys his time there.

Most of the crime in NYS occurs at the capital when the legislature is in session.  

Well that sounds good for him then.  
I hope he likes the outdoors when he gets immersed in it.

Congrats to your son.

There really is no crime in Lake Placid or areas to stay away from. There's little piddly crime like everywhere else, but people aren't getting mugged and killed on the regular. At all.

Plattsburgh is also relatively low crime. Pretty much all the crime in the North Country is what people wrought for themselves through domestic violence and stupid drunk stuff.

I can't really recommend any storage places, I don't have familiarity with that. As far as places to eat, most of it is on the expensive side right in Lake Placid. There are very few "chain" or fastfood restaurants. Saranac Lake has some different options and is little less high brow. In fact, Saranac Lake may be a good place for him to look for a place. It's 10 to 15 mins from Lake Placid. Rents will likely be cheaper there.

I might have mentioned, we have a cabin in Wilmington. Hopefully, your son gets bitten by the outdoor bug. It's absolutely an awesome place for it.

Tell him to get that hotel room lined up very soon.  July 24 is the Lake Placid Ironman. My nephew from MD is running it, and my brother lives in Saranac Lake, so my wife and I were going to make a weekend of it. Ha!  Clearly we were months late trying to get a room. One joint wanted a 7 day minimum at $1600!  So that fizzled out. OP once your son gets settled, he'll love it up there. Oh and they measure snow in feet,not inches.

tag for when I get home.

I keep a small cabin there.



basically its heaven