Kingston and Ulster sucks, I can't imagine why you'd want to stay up here (I'm in Poughkeepsie myself). The weather's terrible (just wait for the winter!), taxes are out of control and forget about ever owning a house around here unless you make a ton more money per year (which you will have to commute to NYC to do, and that's a hell of a commute). That money your old job is offering you will get you A LOT further than up here.
I'm stuck here at the moment, but given the chance, I'd be gone in an instant.