[gesso]

Hi!

I feel like I'm going round and round! Still trying to decide whether to relocate to New Haven Cnty (husband offered job at Yale) from Cambridge, England.

Guilford has been knocked off the top of my list by Woodbridge. The commute from Guilford just seemed to be an unnecessary pressure and also there are lots of Chinese people in Woodbridge (both my daughters were adopted from China).

My question now is: the schools in Woodbridge seem great -- is there any problem with getting into them? Does one need to live in a particular post code? Is there a chance that we'd move to Woodbridge and my kids would NOT get into the schools?

Also, are there good and bad neighborhoods in Woodbridge? For example, I wondered whether houses nearer the Wilbur Cross Prkwy are noisy? I just can't get a sense of how busy this area of the world is -- can't find any photos on the net (other than houses) of what the place looks like. Are roads like Center Rd, Rimmon Rd or Ansonia Rd really busy?

One house I viewed on the net claimed that it was "within walking distance of the town center" -- does that just mean the library is there or is there more to Woodbridge? (i.e. is it just for living and EVERYthing else you drive 5-10 miles for).

I'd be grateful for any input!

Thanks,
Kathy

[glxyman21]

When you live in Woodbridge (or any town for that fact in Connecticut) you can enroll your kids in the public school system for that town. What you can't do is live in a town outside of Woodbridge and enroll your children in a Woodbridge school, This is illegal and some parents have been arrested for doing this. Woodbridge shares schools with Bethany and Orange. I believe there is only one or two elementary schoolsin woodbridge, the middle school is in Orange, and the High School is in Woodbridge (I think that is right).

All neighborhoods are good in the town, I'm not sure which roads are busy or not, but I can imagine there are main roads that are used often. Houses near the crossway will probably get road traffic as many cars travel this road and go atleast 65mph (no commercial vehicles or freight vehicles are allowed on this road).

Woodbridge doesn't really have a "town center" with shops or the like. Mainly the town hall, library, post office, real estate offices and those types of things. Most people do their shopping in Orange or Milford as there is little commercial development in the town..so you will most likely have to travel to do any shopping.

[mels]

You can hear road noise from the parkway (Rt. 15) if you live around Merritt Ave and that industrial park over there. That is probably the least desirable neighborhood in Woodbridge.

glxy covered the schools - as long as you live in town that's where you go. There is one elementary school in Woodbridge (Beecher Rd. School). Kids then go to Amity Jr. High in Orange, then Amity High School in Woodbridge.

Roads like Rimmon Rd, Racebrook Rd., etc. are busy enough that you wouldn't want your kids playing in the street, but it isn't like there is bumper to bumper traffic either. Just a decent amount of cars flowing through.

As for a town center, there really isn't one. Woodbridge is pretty much all residences and not much else. You will have to travel to surrounding towns for just about everything.

[glxyman21]

You could look into the town of Orange, It shares the same schools as woodbridge so they will be with the same children eventually in the upper grades. Plus Orange has a lot of shopping available and lower taxes because they have commercial development to even out the tax base.

North Haven was suggested before which borders new haven and in many ways is much like Orange.

One town that wasn't mentioned before is the town of Cheshire..which is about 20 minutes from New Haven. Many people in this town work in the New Haven area and the schools are also real good. There is enough shopping in town to keep things easy.

This map may help you visualize things a bit
Map of CT Towns and Counties

[gesso]

Hi!

Thanks for these comments!

I kind of lost enthusiasm for North Haven. Can't remember if there was one specific reason -- maybe that the commute to Yale seems just as far as from Woodbridge (i.e. no advantage there), but the school reports not as glowing as Amity system and not as ethnically diverse. Also I still didn't get the sense there was a center -- although a shopping village due to be built (actually that turns me off a bit -- could be absolutely horrible and increase traffic in and out).

I will start looking into Cheshire and take another look at Orange!

Thanks again!

Kathy

[JayCT]

Woodbridge is considered one of the premere suburbs of New Haven and, as I am sure you have seen online, it is the pricest. If the prices haven't scared you away, then I would highly recommend it. Woodbridge is a bit rural in character with no real center to it. There are a lot of trees and homes tend to be on larger lots so it is pretty quiet.

As others indicated most shopping is done in nearby Orange or New Haven. Unless you live in a home that backs up to the Parkway, you will hear little noise from it. Trucks are not allowed on the Parkway so most of the noise is just car related. There are a lot of trees in the area to break the sound, but note that in the winter the leaves are off any you will hear more. I do not think there is any neighborhood that is bad in Woodbridge. Even the major roads are not that busy. Jay

[snowhite]

We are just moving out of the area and I can say that there are definitely good and not so good areas to be in. Don't go near the parkway and don't go too far up toward Bethany. Beware of power lines - that is a huge issue there now. Otherwise, the schools are good and a lot of Yale community is living there. And try not to be on a main road.

[SCALUM45]

I live a town over from Woodbridge. Its a great town. School system seems pretty solid. I wouldnt see a problem with houses too close to the WC Parkway, seeing as though there are not trucks allowed on that highway.

[Radford-Smith]

Hi.

My family and I will be spending 4 months in the New Haven area - work will be based at Yale. We live in Australia and have boys just turning 11 years, currently in grade 6. We would value advice about suitable schools in this area at this age - the boys work and play hard - they enjoy most sports, in particular soccer (football) and athletics.

How long is the drive in from Woodbridge, Orange or Cheshire to Yale?

Thanks

Radford Smith.

[JayCT]

Orange and Woodbridge are less than 10 miles from Yale in New Haven so the commute would be easy for you. Both towns are excellent for raising children. The schools are excellent and there are a lot of activities and sports for kids. They would be great places to live. If you have any other questions, please let us know. Good luck, Jay