Troy

The city of Troy in Rensselear County, NY is a popular destination for those who love River Cruises, Antique Stores, Children's Museums, Being Outdoors, History Buffs, and lovers of the Performing Arts. Fans of Kurt Vonnegut will be excited to know that he lived here for some time, and he also drew inspiration from the locale for some of his books. Quite a few of his novels have settings that are in Troy, but he used a fictional name for the city: “Ilium” (what the Romans used to call Troy). That's why Troy, NY's motto is “Illium was, Troy is.” Kurt Vonnegut is famous for such works as Cat's Cradle and Slaughterhouse Five. Player Piano is the piece in which Kurt Vonnegut alludes to Troy as “Ilium”.


Located in upstate NY, Troy is a very exciting city with lots to do for all who visit here. It's home ot the Children's Museum of Science and Technology, the Captain JP Cruise Line, the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, the Arts Center, Alpha Bowling Lanes, Rensselaer Tech Park, New York Theater Instittue, the Frear Park Municipal Golf Course, and the Troy Waterfront Farmer's Market. There's also many fun and unique stores to explore such as Cathedral Music, Market Block Books, the Antique Wearhouse, Pigmant Art Supply and more (such as the Pioneer Food Mraket, for instance, instead of your typical grocery stores such as A&P and Price Chopper supermarkets). There's also wonderful unique restaurants such as The Red Front Restaurant, Holmes & Watson, Daisy Bakers, Irish Mist, Dinosaur Bar-B-Q, the Notty Pine Restaurant, and more!

If you're looking to be outside, Frear Park is a great place to be! There's ice hockey as well as a golf course (complete with 18 holes!), and Knockerbacker Park has its very own Ice Skating Rink as well. Prospect Park has Tennis Courts (14 in all), and RiverFront Park has plenty of festivals, concerts and events held all throughout the year! Troy also holds many public events such as the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market (open every Saturday, with access to over 60 businesses). There's the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, which holds many unforgettable and eclectic concerts throughout the year. Also, don't forget about the Fishing Tournament, the Flag Day Parade, Rockin' on the River, the Troy Turkey Trot Road Race, Victorian Stroll, and the Troy Pig Out: they're all unforgettable events, not to be missed!

If you're visiting, you can stay at either one of these very fine locations: the Best Western at Franklin Square Inn (1 Fourth Street), Hilton Garden Inn (235 Hoosick Street), Olde Judge Mansion Bed & Breakfast (3300 Sixth Avenue), and the Cannon Building (offers extended stays; located at 5 Broadway).

Troy is three hours by car from NYC on 1-87N. This is a city, so you'll find plenty of access to gyms, medical care and daycare facilities. Plus, Troy also offers affordable housing (including low-income and senior housing). Colleges include Renssalear Polytechnic, Institute, Russell Sage College, and Hudson Valley Community College. Troy's schools are average to fair with a few exceptions such as Bell Top Public School, whose service is well received by the community. There's a lot of public schools as well such as the Troy Preparatory Charter Schol, Sacred Heart School, the Doyl Middle School, the LaSalle Institute, the Catholic Central High School are also all great schools to choose from.

A home in Troy costs a reasonable $163,000 and is very affordable for NY state. Like every city, some areas in Troy are safer than others, and this should be taken into consideration when choosing a home. That said, Troy has quite a lot to offer and is a great place to visit, as well as a unique place to live!

I lived in Troy, NY for five years while attending college. This city has a lot of history and some truly beautiful architecture - old buildings with stained glass and carvings, impressive churches, and some nice examples of public sculpture including a large statue of Uncle Sam. Unfortunately, Troy has fallen out of luck during the Great Depression, and its economy has not recovered. The town is filled with unemployed people, and crime (especially drug-related activity) is frequent. Caution should be used when walking around at night, especially in the southern section of the city. Many of the once-beautiful buildings are now abandoned and falling apart, and many downtown businesses are closed.

Despite these shortcomings, Troy does provide a very affordable place to live, especially for college students. The parts of town surrounding Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Russell Sage college are better lit and safer. Some stores downtown are thriving despite the overall gloomy atmosphere, including a few antique and jewelry shops. Restaurant, bar, and nightclub choices are quite limited at this time, and many students venture out to nearby Albany for these attractions. Overall, while I can recommend Troy as a cheap place to rent an apartment temporarily for students, families and professionals would be advised to stay away.