[Simsfan]

Out of the three towns I would easily pick Simsbury. The issue of the danger of crossing the mountain is overblown. You are coming from Boston. My family lived in Wellesley before Simsbury and was more than happy with the transition. The comments about the culture of Avon are on point and there is no nice town center just the route 44 strip. Glastonbury may provide easier access to shopping, rt 84, 91 etc, but despite being a great town, it doesn't quite match up to Simsbury. Simsbury has unrivalved beauty compared to the other two, a better sense of community, benefits of suburb but still old new england charm, and a better school system than the other two (although they are all strong). I noticed growing up the area that in youth and high school sports (I think a good reflection of how a town is raising its children) that Glastonbury kids consistently through the years didn't quite have the class of Simsbury kids...sportsmanship etc...Live in Simsbury, but just make sure you're within 10 minutes of Route 44 if you consider access to the outside world critical and you will be glad you made the decision.

[BogieOrangeman]

Originally Posted by Simsfan

Out of the three towns I would easily pick Simsbury. The issue of the danger of crossing the mountain is overblown. You are coming from Boston. My family lived in Wellesley before Simsbury and was more than happy with the transition. The comments about the culture of Avon are on point and there is no nice town center just the route 44 strip. Glastonbury may provide easier access to shopping, rt 84, 91 etc, but despite being a great town, it doesn't quite match up to Simsbury. Simsbury has unrivalved beauty compared to the other two, a better sense of community, benefits of suburb but still old new england charm, and a better school system than the other two (although they are all strong). I noticed growing up the area that in youth and high school sports (I think a good reflection of how a town is raising its children) that Glastonbury kids consistently through the years didn't quite have the class of Simsbury kids...sportsmanship etc...Live in Simsbury, but just make sure you're within 10 minutes of Route 44 if you consider access to the outside world critical and you will be glad you made the decision.

I can tell you one thing. Merely driving through the town one summer afternoon my girlfriend immediately fell in love with Simsbury. That's how beautiful it is in most areas. Now if I could only afford to live there...

[DuaneM]

I travel over the mountain almost every day to get to my office. I dont find it that bad. Accidents can happen anywhere around here.

As far as retail there is almost every store you would want along rte 44. The Shoppes at Farmington have a great selection. I will agree the big box stores aren't there yet but they are working on that.

The mountain road in the winter isn't too bad. They tend to make sure it is cleaned. I think the real problem is with the drivers. It is amazing how fast CT drivers drive. I will say that if there is an accident or breakdown on the mountain it does bog the traffic down. However there are ways around it.

The Farmington Valley is a beautifull area.

[BigHouse9]

I used to live in Glastonbury and my brother lives in Simsbury. Hands down, Glastonbury is far nicer in my opinion. Just a beautiful town with a ton of charm and so convenient to everything. Simsbury was simply a pain to get to and doesn't have the conveniences that Glastonbury had. I love all the apple orchards and New England style farms that Gbury has not to mention the Main Street area. While some people knock the folks from both towns as being snotty, I knew a lot more people who would say that Simsbury has that upper air to it as compared to Gbury.

[Mark_CT]

Simsbury is nicer than Glastonbury... Glastonbury has some sketchier areas, especially in North Glastonbury towards East Hartford. Generally speaking areas west of the river are much more prestigious (and attractive) than those east. But, don't get me wrong, there are many nice neighborhoods in Glastonbury and South Windsor. If you are moving from Boston, you would probably like to be on the east side of the river because it would make the trips to visit Boston about a half an hour shorter than from the farmington valley. The farmington valley is closer to Manhattan, which is a wonderful place to go on the weekends if you're interested (only 2 hours away), which I doubt a bostonian would be... There are also a lot more New York-oriented people west of the river so if that will annoy you, you may want to stay to the east.

[brightstar78]

Where do you guys work? I live in Stamford, and while the prices of Avon and the surrounding areas are definitely more affordable I was told there aren't many jobs available.

We were thinking of moving up there, but my husband works in NY and I work in Greenwich, so thats quite a distance compared to where we are now.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Mark_CT

Simsbury is nicer than Glastonbury... Glastonbury has some sketchier areas, especially in North Glastonbury towards East Hartford.

Well I guess I live in this "sketchier" area near the East Hartford town line. Despite what you think, there is nothing wrong with this area. There is a small public housing project in North Glastonbury, but it is barely more than a neighborhood of moderately priced duplexes occupied by hard-working blue collar workers, single-parents and immigrants trying to get ahead in a new country. I have found most people in this area to be very nice and not "sketchy" at all. Driving through it you wouldn't even know they were owned by the town and moderately priced rentals.

I can tell you, we have NEVER had a problem living in North Glastonbury. It is a very nice middle class area and very convenient to shopping, restaurants and highways. Just because it is not full of over priced bloated McMansions does not mean it is "sketchy". In fact, there are parts of Simsbury that are just as moderately priced. Plus you don't have to cross over Avon Mountain to get anywhere. JMHO Jay

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by brightstar78

Where do you guys work? I live in Stamford, and while the prices of Avon and the surrounding areas are definitely more affordable I was told there aren't many jobs available.

We were thinking of moving up there, but my husband works in NY and I work in Greenwich, so thats quite a distance compared to where we are now.

While Greater Hartford does not have the amount of jobs the New York City area does (actually no area in this country does), it is a major employment center in New England. Hartford and its suburbs have many different businesses including major insurers (it is the Insurance Capital of the Country) and defense contractors (United Technologies is based here with Pratt & Whitney and Hamilton Sundstrand having major operations). There are banks and financial institutions, state government and many different businesses and companies. Whoever said that there are no jobs here does not know the area. JMHO Jay

[Srib]

Sketchier areas in north glastonbury. Well, of course because it borders east hartford it must be considered a total dump! I've seen a lot of crap on these forums, but that one really tops it. I guess if the homes aren't 4,000 square feet then they must be dumps? North Glastonbury has some very nice, safe neighborhoods. In fact, i prefer the smaller, older homes in this area because a lot of them have character and details that the mcmansions in the rest of the town lack. Addision park is top notch in the north end and we have friends who drive from other parts of glastonbury to use the playgrounds in that park specifically. Proximity in the north end to highways and shopping also make it attractive. FYI - i've lived in both north glastonbury and the south end of east hartford and both are fine, safe areas. I never experienced any crime in either area. East Hartford gets a bad rap because of a few dumpy neighborhoods and problems with its school district, somehow this conveys to the whole town. Now apparently because Glastonbury borders the dump the borders must be dumps too? Also, my plug goes to glastonbury anyday. I worked in simsbury for 5 years and absolutly hated my commute there. Yes its a nice town, but trying to get anywhere is a pain. Throw in a rainstorm or an inch of snow and its a nightmare.

[vvolin]

I find it very interesting how a small town like Glastonbury could be sliced into pieces and still be able to find the "good" parts and the "bad" parts. I have lived in Glastonbury for 5 months now. I don't see a difference going around town. Every neighborhood has bigger and moer pretentious houses and others which are smaller and more modest. But the entire town is overall the same. It is just a matter of whether you like to live closer to down town and therefore choose a more northern area, or you like to be in a countryside type of setting, and then choose the south, like me. When I bought my house last August, I had no idea you could even dissect a town like this. I coudl have easy chosen a house north and be jsut as happy. Coming from Fort Lauderdale, Glastonbury is just a little more than a neighborhood. Difference in schools? Well, like Jay says, there aren't, essentially. However, when I first looked at schools up, I did notice that Naubuc was a littlebit behind the other schools in town from a standardized test point of view. I was told (by Jay again) what these differences are due to and how they are compensated and I was fine with it. Still, scores are what you look for first, that's just the way it is. If you choose Glasotnbury, go relaxed: whereever you find a house and a landscape you like, that is your place.

Finally, cliques are everywhere, Jay. I doubt that, for the most part at least, the cliques you see in town are driven by differences in social and economic settings around. It is because some kids will always feel that being popular is a priority and others instead could not care less. The fact is, even in a "snobby" place like Glastonbury, your child will be comfortable essentialy if you make her feel comfortable about herself and her background (I know, make-it-yourself psychology....sorry)

Vaelria.