Rochester NY. Please tell me about it...

[hedgehog]

4. Don't get scared by stories about the snow.

The counties in the snow belt have the equipment to clear the roads quickly and keep them open. It's a running joke that offices in places as diverse as Denver or Atlanta are closed more often due to snow than those in Buffalo or Syracuse!

The small towns and suburbs in New York State have excellent public schools, the big five cities not so much.

Real estate costs are relatively low and public services (libraries, parks, museums,etc) relatively good.

Buffalo and Syracuse have a lot of overcast days, so it's my guess that applies to Rochester as well. On the other hand, you can be outside and comfortable from April to late October even if you don't like snow.