With a lively downtown, prime location, and a thriving job market, Albany New York is home to over 800,000 people. US News has ranked it #28 in best places to live and #50 in best places to retire! The Capital of New York is rich in history and has a lot to offer to anyone who decides to call it home.
Five Reasons to Call Albany, NY Home
Location
Albany is in a prime location, both for daily commutes and weekend trips. The average commute time is 23.1 minutes, which is 3 minutes faster than the national average. Less time in the car is always a plus in our book.
On the weekend you can travel to New York City, Boston, Burlington, or Montreal all within three hours. Saratoga Springs is just 45 minutes north and the Adirondack mountains are only an hour away. The Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak station has trains to NYC, Buffalo, Boston, Montreal, and many other destinations, making a spur of the moment trip a possibility.
You don’t have to travel far to enjoy yourself, though. Albany is part of the Tri-City Area, with Troy and Schenectady just minutes away. Both historic cities have a lot to offer visitors, including Proctor’s Theater in Schenectady and the farmers market in Troy, which was crowned the 2019 People’s Choice Award by the American Farmland Trust.
City and Country all in One
One of the things we love most about Albany is the ability to be in an urban setting one minute and in the mountains the next. For people living in New York City, escaping the concrete jungle for the day requires lots of time and modes of transportation. In Albany, if you want to escape the congestion for a bit simply drive 30 minutes to Thatcher Park and enjoy some light hiking while appreciating breathtaking views of the city below.
Thriving Job Market
Albany is the capital of New York and thus 300,000 people living in the city work for the state. In addition to the state capital buildings downtown, state offices line Wolf Road in Colonie and Washington Ave right outside of Albany.
There are several other major employers in the area that attract people to move to Albany. The GE Research Center is the second-largest employer after the State of New York. Also high on the list of top employers are Albany Medical Center, Northeast Health, and Verizon.
The Beer!
Beer drinkers rejoice! Craft and microbreweries are popping up left and right, rivaling the likes of Denver and Portland Maine. Some breweries have grown into full restaurants, offering delicious menus alongside the selection of local brews.
Some standout options for us include the following:
- Druthers Brewing Company
- Fort Orange Brewing
- Fidens Brewing Company
- Rare Form Brewing Company
- Nine Pin Cider
- Albany Pump Station
There is Always Something to Do
Whether you enjoy hiking, trying the newest restaurant, or kayaking at a nearby lake, there is something for everyone in Albany.
Visit Albany Pine Bush Preserve and enjoy some nature trails or spend some time at the New York State Museum learning about our state’s history. Crossgates Mall is your premier shopping destination, in addition to offering bowling, a comedy club, multiple restaurants, and an escape room.
In the mood for a concert? The Egg, The Times Union Center, and the Palace Theater are all in downtown Albany and host numerous popular acts every month. That’s in addition to the countless bars that host live music throughout the week.
Children will have fun on the rides at Huck Finn’s Playland or ice skating in the winter at the Empire State Plaza. Attend a Siena basketball game for an activity the whole family will enjoy.
Needless to say, Albany has a lot to offer!
Moving to Albany, New York
If we’ve convinced you to make the move, start exploring our apartments for rent in Albany! We know you’ll fall in love with one of our 10+ communities in addition to the city of Albany. We can’t wait to have you as part of the Burns Management community.
Have questions or want to schedule a tour? Give us a call at (518) 456-7155.