[TimNJtoCT]

Hi everyone. Today is my first day on this forum and i'm very impressed so far.

I hoping for some honest unbiased advise.

I live in Southern NJ in a 3200 Sq ft home approx worth $475,000. It's an upper middle class area with typical New Jersey qualities - excellent schools, above average education level and income but with higher costs of living and high property taxes). Our home is beautiful and our only complaints would be that it is in a development and has no privacy whatsoever.

I have a wife, 3yr old boy and a baby coming in December.

We will be moving to CT around late summer 2008. My wife has family in the Ridgefield area and would like to stay close them but can't afford the homes in Ridgefield.

I'm looking to puchase a home in the 400-500K range. I would like to keep taxes under $6000 if possible. I need good schools and pretty close access to major highways. We would like something with a well defined town center. We also want a more private lot but do not want to be in the middle of no where.

My research has come up with areas like Bethel and Newtown. Any advise is welcome!!

Thank you!
-Tim

[JayCT]

You will be hard pressed to find a 3200 sf house near Ridgefield in that price range. Like you, Bethel and Newtown are the first two towns that come to mind for me. You might also want to check New Milford, New Fairfield and Brookfield.

It will also depend on where you will be working. Commuting can be an issue in Fairfield County and with two kids, it is always good to live near where you work. Give us a little more information on where your job will be and we can help find a town that suits your needs. Jay

[kristiv]

Where in South Jersey? I am a former Jersey girl and now Ridgefield resident via a few other CT towns. It is true that it will be hard to find a house of similar size in Ridgefield but depending on what you are looking for in a town (and your commute of course) Bethel might be an alternative and is probably the closest of the towns mentioned. If you are up visiting your wife's relatives take a drive into Bethel.. there is a cute Main Street with shops and restaurants; great ice cream; a diner that features classic cars on the weekends and a movie theater that shows first run movies as well as foreign films and independents

[TimNJtoCT]

I'm in Woolwich Township NJ now (by Swedesboro, around Exit 2 on the NJ Turnpike).

Work is where it gets interesting. I currently work from home (I know, i'm lucky). I will probably stay working from home for the first 6months after the move and then move on to a different position. There is a possibility I could work a regional sales type of position that may require me to travel around the immediate area (say within a 60 mile radius of Danbury). If that's the case, it will be important that I'm close to major highways.

I was in Ridgefield last weekend visiting and we drove through a lot of the towns but it's all kind of blur. It was rushed and we really didn't spend to much time in any one town. We'll have to get back up again soon. We have until next summer, however, I want this to be the last move for a long time so we need to get it right the first time!

[TimNJtoCT]

Any opinions on Bethel vs Newtown vs the other towns surrounding Danbury?

[glxyman21]

I really don't know much about the two, they're both quiet and good quality. Newtown has a large land area, so expect it to be more woodsy. You can also try further up to Southbury and Middlebury (they share a regional school system) and they are about 30 minutes to Ridgefield and are located on I-84

[jumper]

I think you'll like Bethel. It has the defined town center you are looking for..you can get anywhere relatively easily...and there are some really nice amenities in the town like the Sycamore a 1950's drive in burger joint, the Bethel Cinema which has an eclectic movie selection...there is a wide selection of homes...antique to new construction...

[TimNJtoCT]

Thanks for all the feedback. Bethel and Newtown seem to be the top 2 in the running for now. I'll check out the others recommended.

I'm sure I'll be posting more questions as the time gets closer!

Thanks

[HeadedWest]

Bethel vs. Newtown: Bethel has a history of intense political disagreements; I don't know a lot about the issues but I think some of them center around school funding.

Newtown was more placid politically but currently there are issues with the way that the town is planning for the use of the former Fairfield Hills hospital property. The town administration has decided that a vote several years ago has given them the power to make major decisions like moving the location of the town hall without seeking voter approval. It has gone to where there may be a 3rd party in the upcoming town elections. The last tax referendum went a record number of rounds before passage. There are other controversies about whether or not more new schools will have to be built.

[TimNJtoCT]

So politically, it sounds like they have the same issues as most small towns. They are always bickering about something!!

I'm more worried about schools, types of people, how well the areas are maintained (parks, shopping centers, etc).