[n1284]

Hello Friends,
For the past one year my wife and I have been living separately due to our work locations. My wife works in Hartford, and I have been working in nyc so we had no choice .. now I have found an opportunity in Greenwich and excited to move to CT. we are looking for something between from where both of us can commute within hour. We checked Hamden which seems to an option from where both of can commute (~33 miles for my wife, ~52 miles for me). But I need to be closer to public transportation as I need to come to nyc 2 times a month. So we need to be closer to public transportation as well. Please help us with other options we should consider. we thought of New Haven, but we would rather be in suburb.

cheers!

[Stylo]

Do you have kids? Do schools matter to you?

If not, there's a few choices. You want to be near the New Haven train line, since commuting to car by Greenwich is no fun. Traffic is really bad between Norwalk and Greenwich. Hamden is a tough commute to Greenwich as you can't do it by car due to traffic unless you leave VERY early (like 5AM), and would have to drive ~15-20 minutes to the New Haven station or ~20-25 minutes to the Milford station.

Milford is an excellent choice and probably the best compromise for commuting to Hartford and Greenwich/NYC, as you have a train to Greenwich nearby - as well as an 80 minute express to NYC. It's also about an hour's drive to Hartford. You can take the Merritt to 91 to minimize traffic and avoid the awful 95/91 interchange in New Haven. If you can find a place within walking distance to the train, even better - and the downtown/train area in Milford is very nice.

Stratford is another. Further to Hartford, but a few minutes closer to NYC/Greenwich by train. Shelton is a decent option. You can drive into Stratford for the train.

Trumbull is worth considering. More than an hour to Hartford, but you can drive to Bridgeport or Fairfield for train.

Orange is a town outside of Milford that's very nice. I wouldn't go much further north or east than Orange for commuting to Greenwich/NYC, and wouldn't go further west from Stratford for the drive to Hartford.

[n1284]

Yes we have kids, but do not need to worry about the schools just yet
How is the traffic on Rt 15 if I were to drive from Hamden to Greenwich.
I have heard horror stories for Rt 95.

[7 Wishes]

Rt. 15 is almost as bad as 95, except there's no trucks to deal with and you can probably get away with leaving a little later (like 6am).

As for schools, of the towns mkiv mentioned, Trumbull and Orange probably have the best schools. I have a friend who lives in Trumbull who used to work in Bridgeport but now works in Hartford and she says the commute is doable (about an hour). It will be an easier drive from there to Greenwich that it will from Orange.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

You'll want to be as close to Greenwich as possible, as FFC traffic is the worst in the state. My suggestion would be Fairfield. If that isn't within your budget, consider Milford or Stratford.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by n1284

How is the traffic on Rt 15 if I were to drive from Hamden to Greenwich.

TERRIBLE.

You need to take the train to Greenwich.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by 7 Wishes

It will be an easier drive from there to Greenwich that it will from Orange.

Somewhat debatable. There's really no traffic from Orange to Trumbull, so it doesn't save much time.

Merritt commute is doable only if you leave around 6AM, but going home is really going to suck unless you leave at 3:30-4, or after 7:30.

Btw, test scores don't tell the whole story and I know people who have had good experiences in both Hamden and Milford.

[JayCT]

I agree with the Milford suggestion. I also agree to try to use the train to work in Greenwich. The Merritt Parkway is not fun during rush hour. Jay

[7 Wishes]

Originally Posted by mkiv808

Somewhat debatable. There's really no traffic from Orange to Trumbull, so it doesn't save much time.

Merritt commute is doable only if you leave around 6AM, but going home is really going to suck unless you leave at 3:30-4, or after 7:30.

True, I was simply being absolute on pure distance/time. But if the OP really likes Orange over Trumbull, I agree here.

[44moving2fl]

I live in Milford and my husband sometimes commutes to NYC. If he leaves very early he can drive otherwise he takes the train. We have kids and Milford is a great place for families! The beaches are very accessable and lots of parks and activities for kids.