I am moving to New York State in a month. I am from Sacramento, CA (a city I love) and am currently living in Boston, MA (a city I dislike). My new job is remote and so I can literally choose to live anywhere in NY.

I thought I was going to move to Albany, but visited this past weekend and it felt unwalkable, sprawling, and I felt a little lonely. There wasn't much to do. And the food was pretty bland.

I love how friendly Californians are and dislike how Bostonians are generally stuffy (and keep to themselves) compared to people in other places. I am really looking for a city with generally warm people (e.g., midwest hospitality), decent food options, outdoor activities, high walkability, and community events. I am hoping to build community in the next place I move to and so I'm hoping the city of choice has people who are super receptive to making friends with strangers.

I've heard good things about Buffalo but have never been and I don't know anyone there. I am a single male in my early 30s who doesn't particularly enjoy sports or bars, but does enjoy other outdoor activities (e.g., hiking, boating). Would Buffalo be a good option for someone like me? I know this is a broad question, but I'm hoping others can share their experiences.

Also want to note that while I like NYC, it feels a little too chaotic for me. Having lived in tons of cities over the past 10 years, I think my ideal population size for a city is between 200-300k.