To move or not to move to New Haven? (Hamden: housing, condos)

[Chabelamarie]

Hello! My husband and I live in Washington DC. We have a baby girl and we need more space. We can not afford the city and we don't want to move to the burbs in VA or MD. New Haven has come up in a few searches and so far looks lovely. What are the best areas to move to have some kind of urban life and also be able to raise a kid? Any recommendations on preferred neighborhoods or other towns/cities in CT? We are hoping to buy a property within the $200-$300K range. Thanks a lot!

[JayCT]

Chabelamarie _ Welcome to Connecticut. True urban life does not really exist here in Connecticut. It is really sort of a suburban-urban life for the most part. That means that generally you will need a car and you will have to work a bit to use the little-bit of mass-transit that there is. That said, New Havenis a great small city with a lot to offer. It does have an extensive bus system that serves most parts of the city and that connects to the transportation hub at Union Station near downtown. Some neighborhoods that may interest you are downtown, Wooster Square, Westville and City Point.

Downtown is the central business district and has had a lot of housing options added in recent years. The living is very urban meaning you will not have a yard for your child, but there is so much within walkking distance it may not matter. There are many great shops, restaurants, entertainment and New HAven Green.

Wooster Sqaure is a historic neighborhood located near downtown that has townhomes and condos in a less dense setting than downtown. It is the home of the famous Frank Pepe's Pizza and Sally's Pizza.

Westville is a small urban village located just north of downtown. It has a lot of small shops and restaurants and has a wide variety of housing options from apartments to nice homes on small lots.

City Point is also a historic area located on New HAven Harbor with homes dating back to the 1800's or earlier. It is an area that is on the comeback with beautiful old homes being renoovated. There are a couple of restaurants on the water there but no other shopping or entertainment options. It is also the location of the Sound School, a well regarded magnet school.

In general, the schools in New Haven are okay, but there are the typical urban problems in the middle and high school levels. A lot of people in NEw HAven send their children to private schools to avoid problems and that can be expensive. I am sure others on these boards will elaborate on what I said and offer suggests on other parts of the city that would suit your needs. Good luck, Jay

[skytrekker]

New Haven has an urban life with much sophistication for its size. It has much to offer for those used to the cultural opportunities of Washington DC- at a much reduced size. The city has a tighter feel, but no less in the way of cultural venues in the visual and performing arts. But this smaller size leaves one less stressed, and not forever fighting traffic and the high costs of our national Capital (my hometown)

Yale University is the sparkling gem at the cities center around the ancient green.
The Yale Art Gallery, British Museum of Art and Peabody Museum are among the best in the nation.

New Haven also has a good number of excellent restaurants from its famous Pizza to ethnic food from all over the world.

New Haven has indeed had a renaissance; but still has some unsavory areas that are best avoided. The Westville area is perhaps the most desirable section of the city to live.

The town of Hamden nearby offers a nice cross between culture, old new England charm, along with much diversity. Its an old suburb, that is part semi urban and suburban. North Haven was recently chosen by Money Magazine as one of the top 100 small towns to live throughout America.

Housing in greater New Haven will be at the high end of your range for median price.
Also consider the towns east of New Haven, Madison, Guilford, Clinton; all very charming, low stress, quiet and access to everything.

You might also like the towns of Essex, Deep River, Chester and Old Saybrook on the lower CT river. Small New England towns of much charm and grace.

The states 'quiet Corner' in the northeast- is the place where you can really escape from it all. Small towns, forests, pasture, Bed and Breakfasts, Wineries, etc. No freeways, traffic. And the most affordable housing in Connecticut.

[JayCT]

Good points skytrekker - Another nice little thing about Connectiuct is that you can get into even the best restaurants with a minimal wait. I know it is just a little thing but it is something I noticed when I came back to CT from living outside New York City. Jay

[maraj]

What about crime in New Haven? I have seen in the past that the crime rates were high. Can anyone comment on this? Thanks.

[Chabelamarie]

Thank you for so much information! The comment about the minimal wait on restaurants is actually very important to us! ) We love food, we love to cook and I'm really glad to hear that is a good selection of ethnic restaurants. How's the job market in New Haven? My husband worked for the Fed government for over 15 years and now works on a consulting firm on the government side.

Really appreciate the question about the crime rate because some of our friends keep telling us that there are some really dangerous areas. Maybe their information is dated.

[skytrekker]

Originally Posted by Chabelamarie

Thank you for so much information! The comment about the minimal wait on restaurants is actually very important to us! ) We love food, we love to cook and I'm really glad to hear that is a good selection of ethnic restaurants. How's the job market in New Haven? My husband worked for the Fed government for over 15 years and now works on a consulting firm on the government side.

Really appreciate the question about the crime rate because some of our friends keep telling us that there are some really dangerous areas. Maybe their information is dated.

Crime in the city of New Haven itself- is about average- compared to similar sized cities nationally. This is despite bad publicity given in the Connecticut media. But comparisons with many other cities make New Haven look good.

Outside of New Haven in the nearby towns crime is very low- well below the nation stats.

The job market in New Haven is good- especially toward health care, stem cell research in the bio sciences, and education. Banking, is also a strong area; including finance.

[David55]

Originally Posted by Chabelamarie

Hello! My husband and I live in Washington DC. We have a baby girl and we need more space. We can not afford the city and we don't want to move to the burbs in VA or MD. New Haven has come up in a few searches and so far looks lovely. What are the best areas to move to have some kind of urban life and also be able to raise a kid? Any recommendations on preferred neighborhoods or other towns/cities in CT? We are hoping to buy a property within the $200-$300K range. Thanks a lot!

I have relocated from Connecticut to the Charlotte NC area. I went to College in New haven, and have lived in New Haven for many years. My original home town is 10 miles west of New Haven.

New Haven is a city in which one can enjoy a culturally and intellectually stimulating life style. This is largely, if not solely, because of Yale University. There are a large number of other excellent colleges and universities in this area.The physical environment is also very interesting because it is a port city.

Just east, and just west of New Haven are a large number of suburban, coastal towns where the quality of life is superb.

Having an infant child, you will want to consider the ramifications of raising a child in an urban environment. Although Yale University and other educator training institutions have some impact on the schools, many of the schools, particularly the large secondary schools are not good environments for children whose parents want a supportive socially, and academically excellent
environment for their children.

There are, however several alternatives for those seeking a good secondary education for their children. Among them are the public schools for gifted and or talented students, the magnet schools, and a number of very good, but expensive private schools.

Bear in mind the extremely small geographic area of Connecticut. Almost any part of the eastern Connecticut offers suburban living within 10 to 25 minutes of New Haven. It is not neccesary to live in New Haven to enjoy its many benefits.

Should you choose to live in urban New Haven, There are some very pleasant neighborhoods. Among them are parts of the section known as Westville, the Orange St, Whitney Ave section, which is quite large, The Prospect Street area, and the downtown section known as 9th square.There are probably others, but those are the ones that come to mind.

Having said that, let me share with you some of the reasons that We have chosen to change our residence to Charlotte, NC. (Everything that I say here is opinion, and you may find some well heeled Connecticut folk who would disagree, having the means readilly at hand to overcome the results of error). Connecticut, it seems to me, is a state which leaves very little room for error. Many of its legal aspects, policies, and actions seem to be punitive in nature, and its draconian approach toward licenses, fees, penalties, etc. are clearly designed with revenue raising in mind, moreso than the public or individual welfare. Taxes in large urban centers are HIGH. And there is a State Income Tax. Unless one is VERY well heeld, one may experience a seemingly unending struggle to find a satisfactory cost-to-value ratio. You won't be merely moving to New Haven, you'll be moving to Connecticut.

After having seriously considered your occupation, intersts, values, and family goals, Ask yourself, "Why are so many people moving FROM Connecticut?

[David55]

Originally Posted by Chabelamarie

Hello! My husband and I live in Washington DC. We have a baby girl and we need more space. We can not afford the city and we don't want to move to the burbs in VA or MD. New Haven has come up in a few searches and so far looks lovely. What are the best areas to move to have some kind of urban life and also be able to raise a kid? Any recommendations on preferred neighborhoods or other towns/cities in CT? We are hoping to buy a property within the $200-$300K range. Thanks a lot!

I have relocated from Connecticut to the Charlotte NC area. I went to College in New haven, and have lived in New Haven for many years. My original home town is 10 miles west of New Haven.

New Haven is a city in which one can enjoy a culturally and intellectually stimulating life style. This is largely, if not solely, because of Yale University. There are a large number of other excellent colleges and universities in this area.The physical environment is also very interesting because it is a port city.

Just east, and just west of New Haven are a large number of suburban, coastal towns where the quality of life is superb.

Having an infant child, you will want to consider the ramifications of raising a child in an urban environment. Although Yale University and other educator training institutions have some impact on the schools, many of the schools, particularly the large secondary schools are not good environments for children whose parents want a supportive socially, and academically excellent
environment for their children.

There are, however several alternatives for those seeking a good secondary education for their children. Among them are the public schools for gifted and or talented students, the magnet schools, and a number of very good, but expensive private schools.

Bear in mind the extremely small geographic area of Connecticut. Almost any part of the eastern Connecticut offers suburban living within 10 to 25 minutes of New Haven. It is not neccesary to live in New Haven to enjoy its many benefits.

Should you choose to live in urban New Haven, There are some very pleasant neighborhoods. Among them are parts of the section known as Westville, the Orange St, Whitney Ave section, which is quite large, The Prospect Street area, and the downtown section known as 9th square.There are probably others, but those are the ones that come to mind.

Having said that, let me share with you some of the reasons that We have chosen to change our residence to Charlotte, NC. (Everything that I say here is opinion, and you may find some well heeled Connecticut folk who would disagree, having the means readilly at hand to overcome the results of error). Connecticut, it seems to me, is a state which leaves very little room for error. Many of its legal aspects, policies, and actions seem to be punitive in nature, and its draconian approach toward licenses, fees, penalties, etc. are clearly designed with revenue raising in mind, moreso than the public or individual welfare. Taxes in large urban centers are HIGH. And there is a State Income Tax. Unless one is VERY well heeld, one may experience a seemingly unending struggle to find a satisfactory cost-to-value ratio. You won't be merely moving to New Haven, you'll be moving to Connecticut.

After having seriously considered your occupation, intersts, values, and family goals, Ask yourself, "Why are so many people moving FROM Connecticut?

[skytrekker]

Originally Posted by David55

I have relocated from Connecticut to the Charlotte NC area. I went to College in New haven, and have lived in New Haven for many years. My original home town is 10 miles west of New Haven.

New Haven is a city in which one can enjoy a culturally and intellectually stimulating life style. This is largely, if not solely, because of Yale University. There are a large number of other excellent colleges and universities in this area.The physical environment is also very interesting because it is a port city.

Just east, and just west of New Haven are a large number of suburban, coastal towns where the quality of life is superb.

Having an infant child, you will want to consider the ramifications of raising a child in an urban environment. Although Yale University and other educator training institutions have some impact on the schools, many of the schools, particularly the large secondary schools are not good environments for children whose parents want a supportive socially, and academically excellent
environment for their children.

There are, however several alternatives for those seeking a good secondary education for their children. Among them are the public schools for gifted and or talented students, the magnet schools, and a number of very good, but expensive private schools.

Bear in mind the extremely small geographic area of Connecticut. Almost any part of the eastern Connecticut offers suburban living within 10 to 25 minutes of New Haven. It is not neccesary to live in New Haven to enjoy its many benefits.

Should you choose to live in urban New Haven, There are some very pleasant neighborhoods. Among them are parts of the section known as Westville, the Orange St, Whitney Ave section, which is quite large, The Prospect Street area, and the downtown section known as 9th square.There are probably others, but those are the ones that come to mind.

Having said that, let me share with you some of the reasons that We have chosen to change our residence to Charlotte, NC. (Everything that I say here is opinion, and you may find some well heeled Connecticut folk who would disagree, having the means readilly at hand to overcome the results of error). Connecticut, it seems to me, is a state which leaves very little room for error. Many of its legal aspects, policies, and actions seem to be punitive in nature, and its draconian approach toward licenses, fees, penalties, etc. are clearly designed with revenue raising in mind, moreso than the public or individual welfare. Taxes in large urban centers are HIGH. And there is a State Income Tax. Unless one is VERY well heeld, one may experience a seemingly unending struggle to find a satisfactory cost-to-value ratio. You won't be merely moving to New Haven, you'll be moving to Connecticut.

After having seriously considered your occupation, intersts, values, and family goals, Ask yourself, "Why are so many people moving FROM Connecticut?

There is both pro and con on this post.
Remember the state of Connecticut does not tax groceries, where NC does. As far as the 'Draconian' nature of Connecticut government- the opposite side of the coin perhaps is true in NC - where the draconian monster is/are mega corporations- which hold workers in such low regard as 'dispensable'. NC is part of the 'no regulation' crowd- where corporations are the master; and workers are the slave- perhaps that concept is why there is so much unhappiness in this country with increasing economic insecurity.

In NC corporations and growth 'at any cost' are the basic important element of the culture. I have heard many people who have made the move to NC- and want out.

As far as the concept of 'values' I feel and know the state of Connecticut stands far above North Carolina on a plethora of values and issues. From Womens, children's and gay rights, to the environment to basic human rights. Out side of a few areas NC values are not IMO at the forefront of what is important to me IN early 21st century America.