[MikefromCT]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

New Haven has young people primarily because it's a college town. Lately Milford has gotten popular with the 25-30 crowd buying their first homes because so many of them work in Stamford or Norwalk, and a HUGE percentage of young people working in Stamford live in Manhattan. Hartford really needs to do more to attract young people.

Hartford actually has a pretty good number of twenty and thirtysomethings - when you factor in the universities (UHart, UConn Law, Trinity, St. Joe's), younger people working in insurance and transplants to the area, we've got a pretty good amount of younger people. I agree we could be doing more to attract a bigger crowd of them (and retain them), and it might not be as sizeable as what you see in the New Haven area, but it's there.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by MikefromCT

Hartford actually has a pretty good number of twenty and thirtysomethings - when you factor in the universities (UHart, UConn Law, Trinity, St. Joe's), younger people working in insurance and transplants to the area, we've got a pretty good amount of younger people. I agree we could be doing more to attract a bigger crowd of them (and retain them), and it might not be as sizeable as what you see in the New Haven area, but it's there.

It's there, certainly, but it's small. The average age for Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford is almost 40. The national average is 4 years younger.

[7 Wishes]

Originally Posted by MikefromCT

Hartford actually has a pretty good number of twenty and thirtysomethings - when you factor in the universities (UHart, UConn Law, Trinity, St. Joe's), younger people working in insurance and transplants to the area, we've got a pretty good amount of younger people. I agree we could be doing more to attract a bigger crowd of them (and retain them), and it might not be as sizeable as what you see in the New Haven area, but it's there.

At the job I worked at for many years, my "boss's daughter" was one of those people you mentioned, she went to UHart and got a great IT job at one of the insurance companies after graduation. She actually liked the area and thought it was "underrated" for young people. She's not there anymore, but not because she hates the area, she got a different job with a major bank in a foreign country and wanted to do that.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by 7 Wishes

At the job I worked at for many years, my "boss's daughter" was one of those people you mentioned, she went to UHart and got a great IT job at one of the insurance companies after graduation. She actually liked the area and thought it was "underrated" for young people. She's not there anymore, but not because she hates the area, she got a different job with a major bank in a foreign country and wanted to do that.

I, too, think it's underrated. I love the Hartford area. That being said, you can't really argue that it's a hot area for young singles. It's very much geared toward the 35 year old suburban businessperson with kids.

[7 Wishes]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

I, too, think it's underrated. I love the Hartford area. That being said, you can't really argue that it's a hot area for young singles. It's very much geared toward the 35 year old suburban businessperson with kids.

Oh I wasn't comparing it to say NYC or Boston or anything, but especially considering she's originally from Westchester County and went to NY City a LOT with friends when in high school, I still thought it meant something.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by 7 Wishes

Oh I wasn't comparing it to say NYC or Boston or anything, but especially considering she's originally from Westchester County and went to NY City a LOT with friends when in high school, I still thought it meant something.

It definitely does. I know someone from White Plains who just moved to Hartford, and he absolutely hates it. I guess it goes both ways.

[urbanliving99]

The cost of living is not sustainable for young people. Why would I choose to live in a place where the median housing price is 400K? I used to live in CT (single/young professional guy) but realized I could get much more bang for my buck elsewhere so moved to Michigan in December from Fairfield County.

Got a job with higher pay within two weeks (at 1/3 the cost of living) - still surrounded by lakes for boating, beaches etc. CT was great scenery wise - but a bad return on investment IMO. I have no complaints about my time there - but you don't have to hate one place to love another =)

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by urbanliving99

The cost of living is not sustainable for young people. Why would I choose to live in a place where the median housing price is 400K? I used to live in CT (single/young professional guy) but realized I could get much more bang for my buck elsewhere so moved to Michigan in December from Fairfield County.

Got a job with higher pay within two weeks (at 1/3 the cost of living) - still surrounded by lakes for boating, beaches etc. CT was great scenery wise - but a bad return on investment IMO. I have no complaints about my time there - but you don't have to hate one place to love another =)

Michigan??? Talk about giant sucking sounds. Though I will admit there are many beautiful parts of that state. Just like Connecticut. Jay

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

It definitely does. I know someone from White Plains who just moved to Hartford, and he absolutely hates it. I guess it goes both ways.

I wonder if it has to do with missing that New York City vibe? Though I work with someone young and single that came from Manhattan, lives in Hartford and loves it. It is all what you make of it I guess. Jay

[mikeandaija2009]

I believe it. My wife and I got out a few months ago and a lot of our friends are talking of leaving. We came down to Florida, bought a beautiful home we could have never even come close to affording in CT. It's been a difficult transition but each day gets better. I missed the first snow and decorating our palm trees with Christmas lights was a little different. The weather is gorgeous now and can't complain about that. We came in August and it was HORRIBLE, but we got through it. I just got out of work and am sitting outside by the pool! Just like checking in the CT forums to see what's going on. We were so apprehensive about making the move after all the negatives we've read. Pay, insurance, cost of living, etc. Actually our pay is lower, but only by 10-15%. Makes up for no income tax I guess. We hit the local farmers market every Sat. and get our fresh fruits and veggies for the week so that saves us too. Gas is cheaper, car insurance was cheaper, and home-owners isn't bad ($1200yr). The economy is actually getting better here. Don't know about CT. Miss our friends, and those Sunday drives along long country roads. I guess it's not always greener on the other side but I can say my grass is very green right now.