[skytrekker]

Connecticut forum posters

a few words here- when an out of state poster wants to buy a single family home for 200K-lets try and refer them to towns with those housing costs that meet that criteria, this would include towns with decent public schools. These towns may not measure up to the high standards many here talk about; very upscale and expensive. We want new people to come to Connecticut-offering a snobby view from our perspective is not helpful.

CT schools that appear 'mediocre' here by some , are much likely of higher quality then many other Public schools in the nation. Lets try and project a more 'populist' appeal- instead of an elite one-not everyone is rich, and can afford to live in the best towns with the most highly rated school districts.

[mels]

I disagree. There is a big difference between steering people to the best public school systems in the state and steering them towards one of the worst in terms of improvement needed saying it is a good public school system when obviously it needs work. There are plenty of towns that aren't affluent with very solid public school systems. Norwich isn't one of them. I am not familiar with school systems across the country so I won't say off the bat that even crappy CT schools are superior to schools in Las Vegas. Now that would be snobby and presumptuous of me.

No one is saying everyone with school aged children needs to live in Greenwich, Glastonbury, et al... However, I don't think we should have to sugar coat every town in the state on this forum, I thought the purpose of this board was to give honest opinions.

[skytrekker]

Mels and Jeremy

lets try and stick to the requests of the OP- a home for 200K and with decent schools. I think we need to be more practical- I am sorry you feel as you do about me- I am just trying to help those coming to the state looking for specifics. If you take this differently I am sorry. Test scores are fine- but lets not use that as the only criteria in judging a school system in a particular town.

IMHO that may prove to be rather limiting, and fails to take into account other social and economic intangibles, which may be both positive and negative. As I alluded to in another post Mark Warner, former Governor of Virginia, and running for the US Senate next year in VA graduated from Rockville HS here in Vernon- a town and school system that has been looked down upon here in a condescending way by some- lets try and not judge any town or school system so easily- if we are so quick to decide on socio economic data , we may leave talented kids behind, because they come from less then favorable circumstances.

Again, I truly respect your opinions, and value the information you both give. Thanks for your input.
And again- lets present data that is fair and precise- if a newcomer can only afford a home for 200K-lets present data regarding a particular town, that meets that standard; we can give 'alternative's within the price range specified that may have better schools. As I said earlier, Norwich's schools do not rate among the best in the state- but again compared to other regions of the country they may be better.

Connecticut needs to attract new people- lets be positive and present information that is useful to all demographic groups. And not present data for certain folks of a higher socio economic status only. I myself can be guilty of this same 'problem'. I hope we can all refrain from making judgments that may have social and economic overtones that may be biased or have negative implications for others.

[ByebyeVegas]

Thanks for all of the input!! There are many things to consider with this move so I appreciate all views and will take in as much info as you all are willing to give.

I am leaning towards New Haven at the moment after talking it over with my S.O., he really wants to be close to the coast, so now it is a matter of knowing what areas to avoid. I think I will move over to the new haven area messages and check those out.

Thanks!

[skytrekker]

Thanks for considering Connecticut ByeBye

New Haven is a great area- with much to offer-best of luck!

[motocrossmom]

Vegas--my hubby's family is from there. He attended school there. CT will be a huge cultural shock, and you may be bored here. Not much to do compared to Vegas!!
CT has the highest taxes around. I love New England, and I am native to CT, but go to RI or NH where the yuppies have not taken over!! CT is great, but it is getting harder to afford every year. Our electric bill reaches over 500 some months, and gas is outrageous. Small towns have less kids in each class, but you will pay higher taxes. Please do not go with Norwich!! Go to Stonington, or Salem, Colchester, Andover, Marlborough, anywhere else!!! Not a nice area to raise kids, sorry Norwich!!!

[skytrekker]

Originally Posted by motocrossmom

Vegas--my hubby's family is from there. He attended school there. CT will be a huge cultural shock, and you may be bored here. Not much to do compared to Vegas!!
CT has the highest taxes around. I love New England, and I am native to CT, but go to RI or NH where the yuppies have not taken over!! CT is great, but it is getting harder to afford every year. Our electric bill reaches over 500 some months, and gas is outrageous. Small towns have less kids in each class, but you will pay higher taxes. Please do not go with Norwich!! Go to Stonington, or Salem, Colchester, Andover, Marlborough, anywhere else!!! Not a nice area to raise kids, sorry Norwich!!!

Motocross

I strongly disagree with your assertion 'there is nothing to do here' and 'It is boring'. I guess Fine art museums, opera, symphonies, Theater, history, the Arts and culture may be boring to you (Hartford metro was rated 25th best metro region in the country for visual and performing arts)

I feel if someone is seeking entertainment here, be it the visual and preforming arts, or a Casino like environment- they can find both.
In addition there are fine state beaches and parks, and close proximity to New York and Boston. I would hardly call these choices 'boring'.

I do not know what town you reside- but housing costs in most of Connecticut are actually lower then Las Vegas. And much much lower then most markets in California. Housing is less expensive here compared to most of California, Portland Or, Seattle Was. Washington DC, Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Boston, Providence, Phoenix, Chicago, Most of New Jersey, Long Island etc.....

Yuppies? That term is from the late 1980s. Yuppies have not taken over the Hartford area- perhaps that 'alleged' culture of the Yuppie is more apparent in towns near NYC- but certainly not here in central and eastern Connecticut. Perhaps a better word today would be 'overachiever'.

As for taxes-
From the Tax foundation, 2007, states with highest tax burdens Foundation - State,Federal and Local Tax Burdens Compared to Other U.S. States,

1. Vermont 2. Maine 3. New York 4. Rhode Island 5. Ohio 6. Hawaii 7. Wisconsin 8.Connecticut 9. Nebraska 10. New Jersey
Source of information: The Tax Foundation - State and Local Tax Burdens Compared to Other U.S. States, 1970-2007

On the Connecticut forum, we try and provide information and data that is solid and backed up by facts- not personal opinion.

Towns that offer a school system of diversity, as opposed to uniformity racially or ethnically may be more desirable to some. I feel you have made an unfair evaluation against towns of diversity. On this forum I like to see test scores that will give empirical information about how a school system performs-not here say- I feel the poster asking the question can make be a decision on that data- not opinion. Anything less is personal bias. And test scores in themselves only tell part of the story.

[mels]

Originally Posted by motocrossmom

Our electric bill reaches over 500 some months

Whoa, what on earth do you have running in your house? Mine is rarely over $100.

[jeremeyk482]

Originally Posted by skytrekker

I do not know what town you reside- but housing costs in most of Connecticut are actually lower then Las Vegas. And much much lower then most markets in California. Housing is less expensive here compared to most of California, Portland Or, Seattle Was. Washington DC, Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Boston, Providence, Phoenix, Chicago, Most of New Jersey, Long Island etc.....

I disagree with much of what is quoted above.

In fairness, the areas of CT where the vast majority of the population resides is far more expensive than most of the national cities you mentioned.

DC is expensive, but in Lauderdale you can get much more for your money in the way of a condominium and even homes. Chicago is statistically cheaper than the Hartford area, which is one of the more reasonable areas in CT. NJ and LI - now that's a whole different ballgame outside of Fairfield County and the shoreline.

What you are doing is comparing single cities to a state as a whole. If you want to compare cost of living, you must compare Hartford with Chicago and Stamford with Miami, or you must compare the cost of living between Florida and Connecticut or Illinois and Connecticut as a whole. You can't say "The state of CT is cheaper than Miami" because that statement holds very little substance, IMHO.

CT is a very expensive place to reside when compared nationally. Sure there are cheaper areas (Hartford eastern Metro, quiet corner, Norwich/New London) but you have to compare apples and apples. That said, we do get what we pay for here - proximity to NYC and Boston, shoreline, mountains, beautiful lakes, shopping and plenty of entertainment. I'd hardly call living in CT "boring." I grew up in Orange County, CA ... talk about Boring!

JMHO

[Rich Lee]

Originally Posted by motocrossmom

Our electric bill reaches over 500 some months, and gas is outrageous.

Mine too.