Buffalo and Rochester are western NY and Syracuse is central NY. NY state is massive and a lot of options. Is snow the important part or the town feel is the important part? Would you consider Lake Placid? I would cross Syracuse off your list. Buffalo is going to have your best flight options, but it's still not great. You'll do a lot of connecting.

Hudson Valley has some cute towns and then you can drive to a NYC airport for great flight options if that's super important to you.

A lot of NY state is pretty economically depressed. Parts of Buffalo and Rochester are really, really not great. Agree with suggestions though...Victor, Canandaigua are more in a second ring of Rochester so more town feeling. Pittsford and Brighton are the nicest first ring suburbs of Rochester. I am less personally familiar with Buffalo but Ellicotville, East Aurora.

Saugerties.

Are you okay looking a little south, the Albany region? Or Dutchess County, like Millbrook?

Anonymous wrote:International airport? No.

But all the “main” airports in NY state have many flights to JFK, EWR etc

Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse are technically international airports, but I don’t think any of them have direct international flights. Rochester and Syracuse were international due to having some routes to Canada. I think you might be able to get to the Caribbean from Buffalo, but only certain times of year.

Anonymous wrote:Skaneateles.

+1

So much snow, taxes and run down houses.

Skaneateles.

The Syracuse airport only flies to Toronto and maybe Paris directly. The Rochester airport has even fewer destinations.

Buffalo could meet your airport requirements because you could drive to the Toronto airport.

Another option might be the Hudson Valley.

Check out Cazenovia, Pittsford or Fairport

NH is beautiful and snowy and probably better in terms of taxes.

International airport? No.

But all the “main” airports in NY state have many flights to JFK, EWR etc

I recently visited a friend in Pittsford, New York (cute suburb of Rochester) and was absolutely charmed. A canal path, lots of cute houses walkable to restaurants, groceries, cafes, and the prices will make your jaw drop in a good way.

Cazenovia

Saratoga springs?
Adirondack area is stunning.

Looking to move to upstate NY when the kids go off to college. Why upstate NY? Not sure, but its beautiful and we like snow.

Looking for cute towns, with access to an international airport within 1-2hrs. We're looking at Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse areas.
Interested in a quiet town, but emphasis on town. We're not looking to be too rural, but a 1 acre lot is ideal. We plan to travel over the next few years to flush out some areas. Looking for recommendations on counties/towns.