[INDEPENDENCEbound]

Hello all. I am relocating from NJ to CT. Actually, this will be my first place since I am moving out of my parent's home. I'm looking at the central and eastern areas. Somewhere near a city, good public transportation, safe environment with a low cost of living. The city nearby must have a good library and good theaters for live shows. Should I be looking for anything else. Thank you so much for your input. If anyone knows the NJ area is there any place in CT with the feel of Hoboken but not as high a living cost?

[JViello]

Originally Posted by INDEPENDENCEbound

Hello all. I am relocating from NJ to CT. Actually, this will be my first place since I am moving out of my parent's home. I'm looking at the central and eastern areas. Somewhere near a city, good public transportation, safe environment with a low cost of living. The city nearby must have a good library and good theaters for live shows. Should I be looking for anything else. Thank you so much for your input. If anyone knows the NJ area is there any place in CT with the feel of Hoboken but not as high a living cost?

Since living cost is a factor, and you want that Hoboken vibe...I would check out West Hartford or even the West end of Hartford itself and apartments like Clemons Place. Lots of the cultural things you are looking for. Perhaps others can chime in too with specifics.

[NY2CT]

JMO, but unless it has changed dramatically, I would not recommend Clemens Place as a safe or good place to live. Several of my friends lived there about 4 years ago, and all of them moved out pretty quickly. There were a lot of break ins (cars) in the area and a few muggings. There were also quite a few beggars who hung out in the area. The apartments were fairly run down and the walls were very thin. Management was not good about responding to complaints and broken fixtures. Supposedly there was a security patrol, but my friends rarely saw them.

[INDEPENDENCEbound]

thank you for your replies. Maybe i'm being to specific. I can do without the Hoboken like district. The factors most important to me are safety,cost of living and public transportation. I've had suggestions like Danbury and New Haven.

[glxyman21]

Will you not have a car? if so, public transportation in CT is very limited, especially in its suburbs (doesn't exist). you would have to look to Hartford, New Haven, or Bridgeport for public trans (trains, buses, taxis)

[sun]

There's a new $50 million Hartford/New Britain commuter bus/rail project slated to be constructed on former railroad beds. Federal funding is in place but the actual construction hasn't actually begun yet. Construction is scheduled to run from 2009 through 2012. An Amtrack train depot linking to New Haven, New York and Springfield are located next door in Berlin.

Project History | New Britain to Hartford Rapid Transit Public Website |

New Britain is a blue collar city 10 miles SW of Hartford, 13 square miles in area with a population density of about 6000 per square mile. It's home to our oldest state college, Central CT State University (along with related activities), the Twins AA baseball team and a new stadium, an excellent hospital, large modern library, the largest high school in the state, New Britain Museum of American Art, a local theater group, free summer concerts, YMCA, public & private golf courses, public swimming pools, numerous city parks, and many churches. There's local bus routes servicing most of the city, and other major routes link it to Hartford, Newington, New York and Boston, and other surrounding towns. There's also Hartford commuter express bus parking lots. It has it's own District Courthouse, and is located on I-84 & State Routes 9 & 72.
There are some noticiable pockets of poverty & crime in the city, and the downtown area can be characterized as being distressed, but overall it is much safer than Hartford. And there are plenty of additional shopping outlets located in every nearby town. There's also a lot of ethnic immigrants, predominately Puerto Rican and Polish.
But there are also some nice quiet neigborhoods and many reasonably priced apartments. There's quite a variety of rental housing mixes available: 2, 3, 6 unit buildings, apartment & townhouse condo's and larger apartment buildings both old and new.
One of the nicest area malls and shopping areas is located on the border with West Hartford (served by bus), and there are large movie complexes in the neighboring towns of Plainville and Berlin.
There's also a lot of public park & recreation activities available here. For July 4th, there will be a live band, helicopter rides and kid's activites, not just fireworks.

[jeremeyk482]

Originally Posted by INDEPENDENCEbound

thank you for your replies. Maybe i'm being to specific. I can do without the Hoboken like district. The factors most important to me are safety,cost of living and public transportation. I've had suggestions like Danbury and New Haven.

I was thinking West Hartford too, but that city is more of a town with little public transportation.

I'd suggest New Haven. While the city has pockets of not so great areas, the neighborhoods around Yale and East Rocks are safe, trendy and affordable. Westville is nice too. There are cabs and buses, and you can take MetroNorth to GC from Union Station (ride is about 1 hour and 45 minutes). You're close to beaches

Stamford can be an option too, but I can't imagine would be much cheaper than Hoboken.

I wouldn't suggest Danbury. The city is very safe but lacks convenient public transportation. You can take MetroNorth to GC from downtown Danbury, but you have to switch trains in Norwalk. Most people drive 15 minutes to Southeast, NY for an express train to GC.

[INDEPENDENCEbound]

Thank you all for your comments. I do not have a car as of yet but it looks like i'll have to buy one before I move. So public transportation won't be an issue. I guess I will be looking into the areas of New haven, (W) Hartford, Bridgeport and Danbury.

[jeremeyk482]

Originally Posted by INDEPENDENCEbound

Thank you all for your comments. I do not have a car as of yet but it looks like i'll have to buy one before I move. So public transportation won't be an issue. I guess I will be looking into the areas of New haven, (W) Hartford, Bridgeport and Danbury.

I'd stay far away from Bridgeport as the city has very high crime, and definitely stick with West Hartford over Hartford.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by jeremeyk482

I'd stay far away from Bridgeport as the city has very high crime, and definitely stick with West Hartford over Hartford.

I can't believe people still believe this. The crime rate in Bridgeport is no worse than Hartford or New Haven. West Hartford is very nice but you will pay a premium to live there. For the Hoboken feel you describe in your OP, consider Norwalk. South Norwalk is a very nice place that is undergoing a renasiance and it is convenient to New York via train. Jay