[bbrown]

Hi all. I am thinking about moving to CT and would LOVE to know what towns/cities are nice to live in but also affordable. I am coming from northern va and have only been through CT twice. thanks for your help!!

[Dragondog]

Connecticut has much diversity for a tiny state. Northern VA near DC is a wee congested, frenetic and very $$$$ for housing. (My hometown is DC) I have lived in CT a long time. Unless you have a trust fund, are a movie star or CEO of a large company- totally avoid Fairfield county in the southwestern part of the state near New York City. It is crowded (especially along the I 95 corridor, very expensive and many towns nave a snobby attitude) The rest of the state outside of this small section is surprisingly affordable as far as housing costs. The Hartford area suburbs-west of the river (West Hartford, Wethersfield, Avon, Rocky Hill, Cromwell have much to offer- great shopping, good schools and affordable housing (except Avon-$$$) median price cost for a single family home around 255K. East of the river, Manchester, South Windsor, Vernon, Ellington, Bolton are good choices -Glastonbury is a bit pricey, but a great town. Median price for a home east of the river except for Glastonbury is around 240K. Generally housing is cheaper east of the Connecticut river. Tolland county is very popular now, offering a semi rural life, and quick access to Hartford, shopping, and the Ocean.

At midstate, nice towns are Cheshire, Wallingford, Hamden with housing a bit higher then in the Hartford area. The New London/Groton/Mystic area along the southeastern coast is very pretty, with a martime climate that is cooler in the summer, milder in the winter, and much in the way of recreation. Housing here also is really affordable (255k) median.

Any other questions? Just ask!

[connecticut]

Hello,

Please see my reply to "Possible Relocation to Hartford, Help"

[bbrown]

thanks so much for the info! my husband is employed by toyota. where are toyota dealerships up with there and are they in nice areas to live? what are winters like up there? we will be raising a family up there so i would like to move to an area ideal for that. we have so many questions but none are coming to mind right now. since we have never really been to CT except to drive through it, we are going into this blind. all the advise you can give is very much appreciated!!

[Dragondog]

In the greater Hartford area there are several Toyota dealers.

Gale in Enfield
Lynch in Manchester
Hoffman in Smsbury
Hartford in Hartford
Stephen in Bristol
Colchester in Colchester

Winters here will be colder then NoVA-but not overwelmingly. Locations near the shoreline will be mildest, and closer to what you have for weather in NoVa.

As far as towns are concerned- Manchester, Vernon, South Windsor, Ellington, Bolton, Glastonbury, Somers, east of the river are nice places to live.
West of the river, West Hartford, Avon, Simsbury, Wethersfield, West Granby
are pleasant as well.

It might be a good idea to look at a map of the state. It might be best to avois southwestern Connecticut because of the high costs.

[BigMama18]

check out northford/north branford....branford is also very nice and new haven county is much more affordable than fairfield county....stay away from there ....BIG BUCKS---BigMama18

[spiritwalker]

Originally Posted by bbrown

Hi all. I am thinking about moving to CT and would LOVE to know what towns/cities are nice to live in but also affordable. I am coming from northern va and have only been through CT twice. thanks for your help!!

By all means avoid Fairfield County !!!! Don't get me wrong it has it's areas of stunning beauty and there's nothing on this earth that you can't find there.....However, The costs and taxes It will only get worse How can I speak to this ? I live in Southwestern Connecticut...Very quaint, very affluent, getting very stuffy !!!! Try New Haven County (north branford) or look at East Granby, Granby, and North Granby in upper Hartford county. The last mentioned areas are a bit more rural yet are close to everything...."Connecticut ain't Texas" you can get anywhere pretty quickly.
Good luck in your search. We are in the process of relocating to the mountains of North Carolina.....The rat race is much too much...This rat is checking out.

[meetoo]

No offence meant

I guess if you spend your whole life in one place its hard to know how good you have it ( or don't have it) in Ct

Just about anywhere else is cheaper

all of my presonal thoughts compare to the midwest

BE IT POLITICS, TAXES, ROADS, TRAFFIC OR LESS THAN ENERGETIC PEOPLE.

EVERYTHING IN WISCONSIN TAKES LESS EFFORT TO GET THE SAME AMOUNT OF WORK OR FUN DONE!

[Dragondog]

I can think of many places more pricey then CT
Most of Florida, California the Seattle area, Portland Oregon, and other parts of Oregon, Washington DC area, No Va,
Boston area, northern New Jersey

[salatheel]

The economy in Ct is not very good. Not much growth.