By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – A steady housing market brought top national honors for five Western New York communities. Money magazine Monday released its top 25 list of best places to find affordable housing.
If you found a great house at a great price in Tonawanda, you can pat yourself on the back. But you are by no means alone. It was ranked by Money Magazine as the third best place in the nation to find affordable housing.
Also making the list were Kenmore, Depew, Lancaster and Cheektowaga.
Rankings were based on a comparison of housing costs, the homes' amenities and the income of the average buyer. New York State Assemblyman Robin Schimminger represents two of the communities that were honored - Tonawanda and Kenmore. He was not surprised they made the list.
Tonawanda was beaten only by two suburban Ohio communities. The area of Tonawanda that was ranked included the City of Tonawanda. The publication reported that good houses could be found in Tonawanda for under $100,000.
Ron Pilozzi is mayor of the city. He said the once booming industrial area has seen an exodus of people over the years. But he said for those who hung on, affordable housing was one reward.
And Pilozzi said there are plenty of perks beyond the great housing buys, as well as plenty of variety for your money.
And, if you get tired of puttering around your affordable three bedroom ranch, Pilozzi said to take a ride over to the river for another perk of living in the community. Tonawanda's popular CanalFest runs all this week through Sunday.
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