Anyone FROM Connecticut that recently moved to ATL?? (Atlanta, Albany: real estate, apartments)

[leenalesia]

I am looking for more information on CT and whether to think about moving THERE from ATL...I have posted on the CT website but wanted to see if anyone was recently down here from there and what they thought about the two places, if it was a mistake to leave CT, etc...I realize housing is extremely different up there, not as much house for more money but other than that...Thanks!

[Coffeecake]

We just moved to Atlanta about 6 months ago, but we're originally from CT.

Geography-wise, Atlanta reminds me a lot of CT. Although in many places it is much hillier in Atlanta. Weather-wise, it is colder than I expected in Atlanta for being situated in the South, yet it is much colder and for longer periods of time in CT. The rare snowfall that Atlanta just recieved a few weeks ago, is not unusual in CT. When I was growing up, our winters were much milder than they are now. The depth you saw in Atlanta, is typically what we use to get. Now, winters in CT seem to have deeper snow fall. However, if you live South of Route 15 (Merritt Pkwy) snow fall is milder along the coast than if you live North of the Parkway. Also, if you live close to the main roads you should be fine. Unlike Atlanta, CT snowplows (and there are a lot of them) are diligent about keeping roads clear. So much so, that to the commuter hoping for a day off from work.......no such luck. The snowplows start plowing and sanding in the wee hours of the morning, before everyone leaves for work. They cancelled school in Atlanta when it snowed (yet the roads were still clear). In CT, school is not often cancelled unless the snow is deep, falling consistently or the roads are icy.

Living expenses: I find food shopping to be a bit cheaper in CT. In Georgia, ALL grocery store food items are taxed. In CT, food items that are considered essential (eggs, bread, milk, veggies, meat, etc.) are not taxed. Non-essential items (cookies, cakes, cereal, etc.) are taxed. CT has state income tax - so does Georgia. CT requires emission testing - so does Georgia. The biggest discrepancy you'll find is in housing and property taxes. If you live in downtown Atlanta, then the housing in CT is pretty comparable. Although, CT (depending on where you live) can be more expensive. If you live in the metro outlining areas of Atlanta, then housing is much cheaper in Georgia. Property taxes all the way around are cheaper in Georgia. On a house of approximately 1200 sq. feet - taxes in CT can run you about $6,000. On a slightly bigger house in metro-Atlanta, (1500 sq. ft.) taxes in Georgia run about $1,900. Apartments and condos in downtown Atlanta are slightly cheaper than CT but not by much. Again, the outlining metro areas in Atlanta, are much cheaper than CT. The traffic in Atlanta is far worse in Georgia than in CT. Which is amazing to say, since the two main highway corridors in CT (I-95 / Route 15) can be bumper to bumper. In Atlanta and even outlining areas, is pretty awful all day long and worse after 3:00 PM. Although CT traffic is heavy after 5:00 PM, at 4:00 it is still fairly smooth sailing.

As far as regretting that we moved. No. Although we miss familiar surroundings, family and friends, and the fall colors, the higher taxes we don't miss. Being able to get a newer, larger home is very nice indeed. Homes in CT are typically much older and smaller than what you maybe use to in Atlanta.

The nice point about living in CT is that the state is so small, one can drive across it in 2 hours and be in another state. Easy access to New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachussets, Vermont, New Hampshire. Also, public transportation seems to be more well established in CT than Atlanta. Atlanta for being major city with businesses, people and commuters.........they really have a poor transit system. They need to offer better alternatives for people trying to get into the city to work. MARTA is a great idea, but they desperately need to extend it to the outer lying communities and lay more tracks.

[netdragon]

I lived in Manchester, CT (as a young kid) from 1983 to 87 and Glastonbury, CT from 1988 until 2005 (though I was in college in upstate NY much of the year from 1999 on). I personally feel that CT is a good place for financially established people and if you have kids, waiting until they are at least in middle school because that's where the differences in schools here and there will really become apparent. I don't think it's a good place for people starting out. It's one of the richest states per-capita in the nation, and the cost of living is very high. I agree Geography-wise the Northern part of Georgia is very similar and the roads are curvy like in Atlanta. The similarities end there.

Condos and townhomes are very uncommon in CT and almost everyone lives in a single family home, usually on larger lots (1 or 2 acres is common in most towns). Towns are more historic. Real estate is steady and you don't see any crazy speculation driving up prices like you do here. You can't afford as expensive a home on the same income because taxes are higher, gas is more expensive, etc. In general, homes are more expensive than in metro ATL (though since they are often on larger lots, land is actually cheaper in some cases). There are some towns in CT with ostentatious old wealth like nothing in metro Atlanta, such as Greenwich, Litchfield and some towns along the coast and CT river near the coast. Almost every town has wealthy citizens and some towns like Glastonbury, Avon, Farmington have a very high per-capita income but only a small number of million dollar+ homes. Sadly, average salaries (except in Fairfield county) aren't much higher for white-collared workers than in Atlanta though lower income workers are usually paid more. There are four "zones" in CT in a sense. There is Fairfield county and greater Waterbury and Danbury which have many NYC commuters and rail transit to NYC. This is in the South West and part of metro NYC. Metro Hartford takes up almost 1/3 of the state and is less dense but almost as large in area as metro Atlanta. The rest of the state other than metro NYC and Hartford is rural except New London/Norwich which is a small metro area in the Southeast (where the casinos are) of small historic coastal and river cities. The NE corner of the state is more part of the Providence/Boston market than Hartford.

I and most of my peers couldn't afford to live in the town we grew up in. However, if you're from metro ATL, there's a lot of "affordable" small cities that are more affordable and starting to have a renaissance, like East Hartford, Manchester, Newington, Wethersfield, Waterbury, Norwich, Enfield and Vernon where you could probably swap a home here and get an almost identical home there with a small lot (making it more affordable). People may complain about schools there, but they are still better than almost any school here. It's closer to some of the best ski mountains in the country. The weather is colder, but the ocean keeps it somewhat temperate, however unlike Georgia even though it's closer to the beach, you can only go to the beach a couple months a year due to how long the water takes to heat up. On average, it's probably about 10 degrees colder in the winter and maybe within 5 degrees in the summer :-)

It's pretty and conveniently close to Boston and NYC. If you think there's a lot of sprawl here in Atlanta, you may be in for a surprise in CT. Almost every town in CT is suburban in character. It's like one big suburb. There's more of an isolated feeling as far as getting to other parts of the country in Atlanta whereas CT feels closer to a lot of things to do.

By the way, CT is deceivingly large since it's mostly suburban and highways move slower than in rural parts of GA. It takes about 4 hours to cross the state lengthwise, about 2 hours N-S. So if you are planning to explore it, give yourself time and don't assume because the state is small that it won't take long :-)

I think Atlanta is great, but I'm really here to establish myself and make money off rising real estate prices. I may move back to CT when our daughter is near done with elementary school (10 years, so there's time :-) ) if I don't move immediately to Europe instead, depending if my net worth is at my target for moving to Europe. I don't see myself here after 10 years from now. I'm also considering all the other New England states as well and Vermont is probably my favorite, but I'm not a doctor or lawyer and Vermont is short on tech jobs so unless I lived in Bennington and commuted for 45 minutes to Albany each way, I'd probably be out of luck in Vermont.

[leenalesia]

thanks for the detailed info to both of you, I appreciate it...it sounds like what I had expected I just need to figure out if it is worth it to go up there to be around all the great stuff for the cost Thanks again

[ddandny]

I moved here from connecticut four months ago and i regret it.. I had a home, job and gave up everything and hasnt found work yet. Im thinking about going back and starting over there

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by ddandny

I moved here from connecticut four months ago and i regret it.. I had a home, job and gave up everything and hasnt found work yet. Im thinking about going back and starting over there

Why would you do that?

[chip1980]

dont know why people still move here without a job when we tell them daily not to do it

[hat456]

My advice is to come and stay for a while in the winter. People always say to go visit the south in the summer to get a feel for it. Well, this is the opposite. CT is much more conservative, and expensive, but you do get some good schools for the money. People are generally nice, but keep to themselves. For people not from around here, including myself (from NY), its very isolating. Yes, there are quaint and historical places, but this wears out fast. The southern shore of CT is very different from inland, much more crowded and upscale. But, still that vibe of CT. Coming from the friendly and warm south, you may be in for a shock.

[roxyrn]

It depends on which part of connecticut you are thinking about. I lived in Fairfield County (New Canaan) and it is very different from say Hartford, New Haven, Waterbury areas. And those are different from the areas on/near the LI Sound such as Madison. Where are you planning on working? In this economy I would not move anywhere without a job.
As far as commuting, there is the New Haven line of Metro North RR which will take you into the city from many of the outer 'burbs, small towns but it is not inexpensive and some stations have extremely restrictive parking. When it comes to driving, both the Merritt Parkway and I95 can be complete parking lots during am and pm commutes. At least as bad, if not worse than those in Atlanta area.

[jpatlanta]

This is interesting reading as we are planning to move to CT in a year or two. So far costs seem about the same as where we live in Brookhaven when we compare to Fairfield for a house the same value in terms of property tax etc. To be honest I am OK with a 10% drop in disposable income to live in a nicer place anyway.

Reason for leaving Atlanta are schools more than anything (kids are in elementary now), and also I think there will be more to do in CT due to proximity to the ocean and NYC. I also think a home in CT will be a better investment longterm.

Netdragon your post was interesting as we would also probably move back Europe if not the NE.