[kidyankee764]

I'd suggest Orange. It seems like there are a TON of ranch homes in the town as compared to other towns (Guilford, Madison, Woodbridge) that have more colonials. Great schools and not a bad commute to New Haven.

[anon860]

New Haven is not the same as Boston or DC. Most of the suburban areas are not even remotely walkable and, depending on your standards, will lack the sense of community you are looking for. If you want to live near a strip mall, cul de sac, and highways, you've got tons of options. If you want to minimize your commute, live in a safe area, and still have plenty of sidewalks, neighborhood gathering spots, and destinations to walk to, you should probably focus on Southern Hamden (Spring Glen & Whitneyville), parts of New Haven (East Rock & Westville especially), and maybe parts of Branford or Guilford (though, at that point you're talking about a longer commute). As an added bonus, these are the areas where most Yale affiliated families live. There are a lot of options among the public, magnet, and private schools in the area (and be wary that the conventional wisdom on this site relies on averages and SAT scores, rather than individual student achievement, so talk things over with your daughter and visit options if you can). Also keep in mind that many of the areas, both urban and suburban, have access to good walking trails and land trusts if you're just looking for places to walk.

[Graceozzie]

Originally Posted by 44moving2fl

I lived in a great neighborhood in Milford - everyone out walking all the time! Great beaches, great neighbors and affordable waterfront. Schools are good and New Haven is really close.

Which neighborhood ?? In Milford?

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by Graceozzie

Which neighborhood ?? In Milford?

I have the same thing in my neighborhood in the Gulf Street/Gulf Beach/Bayview area.

[44moving2fl]

I lived in the Rivercliff neighborhood in Milford - it's along the Hausatonic river. Most of the houses on the river have docks with boating access. And everyone is out walking all the time, very friendly and lots of families. There are a couple good restaurants in walking distance. PM me if you want any more info on Milford - we loved it!

[MPEC]

My husband is a physician and I'm a stay-at-home mom. We currently live in Southern Illinois and would like to move to Connecticut. We love the seasons, don't mind cold or snow. We like the appeal of being close to New York and Boston. We have been looking into the Danbury area. We have 2 young children, 3 and 12 month old, and want an area with good schools. Could someone give us some advice as to what it's like living in Danbury/surrounding cities?

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by MPEC

My husband is a physician and I'm a stay-at-home mom. We currently live in Southern Illinois and would like to move to Connecticut. We love the seasons, don't mind cold or snow. We like the appeal of being close to New York and Boston. We have been looking into the Danbury area. We have 2 young children, 3 and 12 month old, and want an area with good schools. Could someone give us some advice as to what it's like living in Danbury/surrounding cities?

You should create a new thread. This thread was in regards to someone working at Yale in New Haven.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by MPEC

My husband is a physician and I'm a stay-at-home mom. We currently live in Southern Illinois and would like to move to Connecticut. We love the seasons, don't mind cold or snow. We like the appeal of being close to New York and Boston. We have been looking into the Danbury area. We have 2 young children, 3 and 12 month old, and want an area with good schools. Could someone give us some advice as to what it's like living in Danbury/surrounding cities?

There are many nice towns around and near Danbury. A lot will depend on how much you can spend and what type of community you like. Danbury itself is a small city. While not horrible it does have some minor urban issues and the schools are not necessarily the best.

One of the nicest towns near Danbury is Ridgefield. It is attractive, has excellent schools and a lot of family activities. It is however expensive primarily due to its proximity to very affluent lower Fairfield County and Westchester County in New York. Nearby Bethel is less expensive. A couple of other towns to consider would be New Fairfield and Brookfield. Both are nice suburban towns with good schools and a lot for families.

Also the link below will give you information on schools here in Connecticut. Look for towns with schools that perform at or above the state averages on the Connecticut Mastery and Connecticut Academic Performance Tests. Also look for class sizes that are in the low 20's or less. Jay

State Department of Education - CEDaR

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by JayCT

There are many nice towns around and near Danbury. A lot will depend on how much you can spend and what type of community you like. Danbury itself is a small city. While not horrible it does have some minor urban issues and the schools are not necessarily the best.

One of the nicest towns near Danbury is Ridgefield. It is attractive, has excellent schools and a lot of family activities. It is however expensive primarily due to its proximity to very affluent lower Fairfield County and Westchester County in New York. Nearby Bethel is less expensive. A couple of other towns to consider would be New Fairfield and Brookfield. Both are nice suburban towns with good schools and a lot for families.

Also the link below will give you information on schools here in Connecticut. Look for towns with schools that perform at or above the state averages on the Connecticut Mastery and Connecticut Academic Performance Tests. Also look for class sizes that are in the low 20's or less. Jay

State Department of Education - CEDaR

Good suggestions. Redding, Newtown and Southbury are also beautiful towns to consider.

[Stylo]

To add to that, if you can choose any area in CT, I would not go with the Danbury area unless you have a job there.

There are "nice" towns, but the area is kind of blah. In that I mean it's a bit dull compared to other parts of the state. It does not have the most robust job market either. For a similar budget I'd stick to options in the greater Hartford or New Haven areas.