According to website Salary.com (www.salary.com), Schenectady, N.Y. is a great buy.
The city was ranked ninth on the “salary value” index of U.S. cities. The index accumulates local salaries, the cost of living (housing, food, transportation, utilities and state taxes), unemployment and job growth, all compared to the national average.
It was also noted that living in Schenectady costs 2.7 percent less than living in Albany, which ranked 26th on the list. In all, 188 U.S. cities were ranked, with New London, CT cited as the number one city for salary value, and New York City chosen as the most expensive.