[cdvonstinkpot]

Syracuse, NY has Verizon FiOS (100/100 Mbps @ ~$75/mo) in many parts of the city. And while 60%+ of the area is ghetto, rents in nicer parts are relatively cheap (~600/mo). Long winters with lots of snow, & the city's always prepared to get pounded, so stuff rarely closes from it. There's a city-wide bus service that goes into the suburbs regularly, & to surrounding towns outside the metro area a few times/day. So you don't really need a car, which saves lots of money. No Uber yet, though. New York City's <5 hour drive, or there's Amtrak train service to Penn Station.