I see you mentioned Albany. If you want to be a little closer to NYC you can consider the Catskills. Specifically Woodridge and South Fallsburg. I would recommend Woodridge as I live there. If you are Yeshivish then South Fallsburg.
There are express commuter buses (shortline bus) to the city (which I commute daily). Trip is a bit less then $10 each way when including transit check discount.
The day school (Torah Umesorah affiliated) is small. Hebrew studies you cannot compare to Brooklyn. Not such a high level but still good. Good secular education. They will work with you for tuition.
Housing very reasonable. On average houses around 130K. I paid less.
Every summer you live in-town as the entire city population comes up. Pretty busy between Pesach and Succos. Now it gets pretty quiet with certain weeks in the winter where it gets busy again. Yom Tov you have many people in shul and in the area.
Just 1 hour and 15 min from Monsey.
Generally speaking everyone gets along. There are all kinds that live up here year round.
Two year round kosher groceries. One Pizza shop open year round. South Fallsburg, Woodridge and Mountaindale are all pretty close to each other by car (10 min point to point). Everything is here to live in a frum community without all the people part of the time.
I have published articles I can send you with more info on the area etc… Articles were written in summer 2013.