[ByebyeVegas]

We ( Me, my Finacee, and 3 year old daughter) are considering leaving Las Vegas for the East Coast. I know it sounds crazy.

I'd like to move before my daughter starts Kindergarten so I am starting my search now for the best areas. We live comfortably here in vegas on a combined income of about 75k per year. I work a clerical/administrative job and my finacee is in sales. We live in a 200k valued home with an aproximate house payment of 1k/month. We hope to be able to find the same or similier situation in CT.

Our problem is we cannot agree on where to move.

I like Hartford for its location. It is close to an international airport, close to NY & Boston (would love to live in boston but just can't afford it), and appears to have a good school system (Vegas schools are terrible which is part of the reason to move). I would also like to be near attractions like museums, parks, aquariums & amusement parks.

My Finacee does not want to move to Hartford, he wants to be near the coast, in a smaller town, He wants allot of house for his dollar, and to be near attractions like Foxwoods (I think he will get homesick for the pokers rooms in vegas). He is also a big sports fan and anywhere driving distance to his teams is a Plus (red sox, patriots, bruins).

Can anyone help us pick a place that could work for our wants/needs.

Edit: Another reason for CT is because I have family in RI, Boston, & NY and my Fiancee has family in Boston. We would be close, but not to close if you know what I mean. =)

[skytrekker]

Dear Bye Bye

you do seem to have conflicting needs, you and your significant other. And of course your child is of up most importance. And we welcome you here-!

Some housing information; housing prices in the greater Hartford area will be slightly less then LV- median price here second quarter 2007 was 242K (Source NAR) Las Vegas was upper 290s. Some great towns to consider here are South Windsor, Bolton, Vernon, West Hartford, Wethersfield, Newington and Manchester- all with low crime and good to excellent schools. Taxes for real estate will be higher then in Nevada and Las Vegas- but you get more for your money; schools that are excellent, local services that are wonderful; lower crime; and a more subdued lifestyle; without sacrificing close cultural and entertainment opportunities of world class stature.

Real estate nationally is in a slump- that it seems may become much worse in the next year. Las Vegas I think is in far worse shape then Connecticut- but housing here will also fall in Value perhaps up to 10%.

If your significant other wants to be near the ocean, and the casino's there are many affordable options in south eastern CT. Housing prices will be less if you gravitate about 15 miles inland as opposed to the immediate shoreline.

I would check out Colchester, Salem, Norwich (all inland about 15 miles or so) And Waterford right along the shoreline. Housing prices in these areas will vary from a median price from 255K and up.

Tolland county in eastern CT is the bargain, (towns like Vernon, Bolton, Willington, Tolland) within an hour of the Casinos and the shore, where a new home can be bought from 250K an up. It is also close to Hartford and its varied cultural icons, great shopping, and more. Yet also close to Boston, SE Mass, Providence and points east to Cape Cod and the Islands.

[JayCT]

Why would you thing we would think you are crazy? Las Vegas does not impress me as a city I would want to live in. Nice to visit but never to live there.

Anyway, have you considered New Haven? It is a great small city with reasonable housing prices and a lot of beautiful small suburbs along the coast east of the city. Towns like Branford, Guilford, Madison (a little pricer than the others), Clinton and Westbrook are very nice. They are convenient to the airport (45 minutes) and the casinos (45 minutes), plus New York or Boston for major league sports. Rhode Island would not be far either. There are also a number of minor league teams in the area that are very convenient and inexpensive to attend. We love going with our kids. Home prices may be a bit higher than the Hartford area but not out of sight either. Otherwise Skytrekker has excellent suggestions as well. Jay

[ByebyeVegas]

Norwich and New Haven sound like they may be a compromise for me and my SO. Of course I still want to have a good school system and activities and attractions for my daughter. Can you give me some input or links to what those areas are like? Are there some neighborhoods in those areas I should try to stay away from? Also with the housing market, is it possible to find a decent detached single family home for around 200k that is in a safe neighorhood? I lucked out when I purchased my townhome 2 years ago. 200k won't buy you much out here, and it certainly won't get you a detached single family place in any decent area. The market here really sucks right now. I would hate to sell and not be able to find a decent place in CT.

[skytrekker]

Bye Bye
from my viewing of homes for example in Colchester; a nice town of 15,000, halfway between Hartford and New London, a nice older home on 1 acre in a nice area will be about 250K. Here in Vernon -east of Hartford 17 miles new homes at 1660 square feet- start around 240K.

In Norwich a nice ranch built in 1989, on .30 of an acre, 1008 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, nice yard in woody neighborhood with outdoor hot tub, basement,garage, ceiling fans etc.$199,000.

The towns east of New Haven, will be higher. I understand that real estate is going through a massive shift right now- so I can feel your frustration
I hope this helps, feel free to private message me for more information.

[mels]

Aren't the schools in Norwich kind of iffy? I certainly wouldn't call their entire public school system great.

[skytrekker]

The school system in Norwich is good- not iffy Mels- for a town of 40,000 its not bad- and I would safely say its better then Manchester- which has a decent system. The Norwich Free Academy does a fine job The Norwich Free Academy: Home No its not Glastonbury, or Westport, or West Hartford- but on par its would be rated highly in other areas of the nation. Norwich has not the income levels or costs of those areas either. I think the OP is looking for affordable housing costs (200k) and decent public education- Norwich offers both. Other towns may have superior school systems, but their housing are much higher.

And would be far superior then Las Vegas.

[mels]

An old roomate of mine was born/raised in Norwich. She moved out recently because she didn't want her almost school age children attending public school there (BTW, she is a teacher at NFA). Considering Norwich is on a list of the 12 CT school districts most in need of improvement, I'd call them iffy. Norwich, Windham schools struggle - Norwich, CT - Norwich Bulletin

Of course this isn't to say that kids aren't succeeding in Norwich schools, I am sure some are. I am just saying if you are basing a relocation spot partially on the school system, Norwich would not be a top contender.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by skytrekker

The school system in Norwich is good- not iffy Mels- for a town of 40,000 its not bad- and I would safely say its better then Manchester- which has a decent system.

Norwich school's Connecticut Mastery Test scores are lower than the State average. Not sure how Norwich Free Academy rates but it is a regional school that draws students from many commuties in the area. Jay

[jeremeyk482]

I haven't heard good things about Norwich schools, but I'm sure they are better than out in LV where I've heard the schools are horrible.

For 200k, you can probably find a small starter home in CT. Generally in your average town, homes start around $250k. The closer you get to New York, the more unaffordable towns get for the average joe.