A couple of nights ago I saw a Simpsons reel on social media. They sang “New York, New York,” but replaced New York with Upstate New York. They pretty much said Upstate New York couldn’t go downhill since it always was downhill. They made fun of Utica and Buffalo and, well, the entire area. It was satire.
I have written Simpsons comics, and the Simpsons is a classic American comedy show. Sure, it’s not as great as it was in its prime, but not many things are.
Also, there are certainly parts of upstate that have gotten run down and are past their prime, but that can be said about a lot of areas and cities, big and small. Since this is a positive column, I’m going to talk about good things of Upstate New York and living in smaller towns.
First off, I will say I really do enjoy visiting big cities like New York, Los Angeles, Boston (although I don’t root for their teams ever), Chicago, and Denver. They offer great museums, shows, restaurants, and sports events. I love to visit; I just wouldn’t want to live in any of them. I guess I’m a born-and-raised small-town guy.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: When you live in a small town in upstate New York, “traffic” basically means getting stuck behind a tractor for 30 seconds. You’re 10-15 minutes from just about anything you need. It may not be big or flashy, but it’s enough — and it’s close.
Research backs up what our stress levels already know intuitively: Long commutes are strongly linked to higher stress, poorer well-being, and cardiovascular health. A major study from the UK Office for National Statistics found that people with long, congested commutes reported lower life satisfaction and higher anxiety. A Swedish study of 21,000 workers showed that commutes longer than 45 minutes significantly increase stress and even marital strain. In short: Less time in traffic equals more time living, and happier couples.
Another huge advantage of upstate life is the green space — everywhere. Trees, fields, lake fronts, farm stands … it all gives us a chance to, literally, reconnect with our roots. This isn’t just poetic; studies consistently show that exposure to green environments reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, boosts mood, and even improves cognitive function.
A famous 2010 University of Essex review found that even five minutes of “green exercise” can improve mental well-being. Add to that the amazing wealth of locally grown produce — apples, tomatoes, sweet corn, beans, cucumbers, cabbage … you name it — and you get a lifestyle that’s both healthier and tastier.
Research from the American Journal of Public Health shows that people with better access to fresh, local produce eat more fruits and vegetables and have improved overall diet quality. Plus, eating local supports the farmers and merchants who keep our towns thriving.
However, the thing that probably makes Upstate New York truly special is our sense of community. In smaller towns, you don’t just live near people, you live with them. You see familiar faces at Wegmans and Walmart, in restaurants, on the pickleball courts (obviously), and everywhere in between. Sure, knowing everyone can mean you sacrifice a bit of privacy, but it comes with a big upside: connection.
Multiple studies — including many works published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences — show that strong social ties are one of the most powerful predictors of happiness and resilience, and with this comes longer life expectancy. (I’ve talked about this a lot as it can’t be stressed enough.) In close-knit towns and cities like ours, people tend to share common values and goals, look out for each other, and create the kind of everyday support network that bigger cities often struggle to duplicate.
Sure, we might not have a Michelin star restaurant (as we are out of their official rating area), but we do have pretty awesome barbecue.
John Zakour lives in Geneva. He is a freelance humor writer with a bachelor’s in computer science from SUNY Potsdam and a master’s in human behavior. He is a chief happiness practitioner. He writes his own syndicated comic, “Working Daze,” which has anywhere from 30,000 to 100,000 daily readers. Contact him at johnzakour@gmail.com, or check out his blog at workingdaze.blogspot.com.