Blasdell, NY

Sitting just south of Buffalo between Lackawanna and Hamburg, Blasdell is a cozy village known locally as the Gateway to the Southtowns. With roughly 2,500 residents, it has a quiet, close-knit neighborhood feel while keeping you only minutes from downtown Buffalo and the Lake Erie shoreline. Daily life mostly revolves around South Park Avenue, the main road through town that connects local spots to the wider metro area.

ATTRAdam Moss / CC BY-SA 2.0

The community has deep roots and a classic Western New York character, complete with walkable side streets and longtime local favorites. One of the biggest points of local pride is Ilio DiPaolo’s, a beloved Italian restaurant opened in 1965 by the famed pro wrestler and still operated by his family today. Overall, it is a welcoming, down-to-earth place that offers convenient small-town living right on the edge of the city.