[southtonorth222]

My husband and I are planning to move to the border of Massachusetts and Connecticut. I will be commuting to Natick, MA. My husband will be commuting to Hamden, CT. We are looking to rent an apartment or home in Stafford Springs, or perhaps another town?

Any suggestions for towns to live in and/or apartment complexes to look into? We are looking for a safe neighborhood with good highway access.

We know that the commute will be pretty long for each of us, but if you have any insights into commute times/routes, we would appreciate that as well.

Thanks in advance!

[nep321]

Those are excessively long commutes! But you are right that Stafford Springs is halfway between Hamden and Natick. I don't think there are any apartment complexes in Stafford though. I know that Ashford has a few, although they are mostly occupied by college students. And Ashford is a very rural town. In fact that area of the state is entirely rural, with a few small town centers here and there. No major shopping or anything like that, just so you know.

[Stylo]

Holy cow, that's quite the spread!

[JayCT]

Hamden is about 115 miles from Natick so you are correct that the CT/MA border is about half way. The problem is that area is pretty rural in character and the areas where there would be apartments are not near the highway. Stafford Springs is about 7 miles off of I-84 so that would just add to an already long commute. Each of you are looking at over an hour without traffic. Not something I would want to do each day.

I do know there are some nice small apartment complexes on Hartford Turnpike in Vernon which are very convenient to I-84. That though would place you closer to Hamden (45 miles) than Natick (70 miles). Still it might be worth a look. Jay

[KaoCT]

How about Willington? It's just to the south of Stafford Springs and you have easier access to 84.

[brighteyes818]

Stafford Springs commute to Hamden,, looks to me like on a good day that would be an hour,,, Oh no,,, if you add a rain drop or a snow flake your not making that in an hour.. the minute you add weather into it,,, the tractors are tipping over people are in accidents and blocking all the lanes..

[southtonorth222]

Thanks for advice/info. Luckily the commute to Hamden will only be need to be done 2-3 times per week. Natick will be 4-5 times per week. So a location a bit closer to Natick might be optimal...

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by southtonorth222

Thanks for advice/info. Luckily the commute to Hamden will only be need to be done 2-3 times per week. Natick will be 4-5 times per week. So a location a bit closer to Natick might be optimal...

This makes a difference. I agree that you should then look closer to Natick. You might try looking in the Sturbridge area. Anything closer to Hamden is more rural to find an apartment rental though you might find a small house in Union or Ashford. Jay

[southtonorth222]

Thanks for everyone's help! We ended up renting a home in Charlton.