[JayCT]

First I am not sure why people are talking about Orange when the OP specifically says they are interested in Trumbull and Monroe.

Second, who cares which schools rank highest. The only concern should be if the school does well or not. Also SAT scores do not mean a lot since it is an optional test. Jay

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Stylo

Redding is also the most expensive, but yeah - it's pretty ideal.

Why is Orange a worse commute than Monroe? Same exact distance to the station they're using, and there's no traffic on that stretch of Wilbur Cross/Merritt.

Because if you wanted to drive to Stamford, which is the primary method of commuting to Stamford from the eastern towns, Monroe is a lot easier (you can even take back roads through Easton/Weston). Orange offers no metro north station and is miles further than Monroe/Trumbull. It just does not make any sense IMO.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

Because if you wanted to drive to Stamford, which is the primary method of commuting to Stamford from the eastern towns, Monroe is a lot easier (you can even take back roads through Easton/Weston). Orange offers no metro north station and is miles further than Monroe/Trumbull. It just does not make any sense IMO.

Monroe and Orange are within 2 miles of each other driving to Stamford. Yes, Monroe has the advantage of backroads. But I can't imagine wanting to do that drive over a train commute. He's taking the Bridgeport train now which, if it works, is certainly easier than that drive.

I'd personally go Easton or Redding at the end of the day for a Stamford commute, or Orange if commuting via Bridgeport and trying to maximize home value. Maybe I'm just biased as Monroe never did anything for me. Trumbull is nice, but if looking for a rural feel and willing to spend that kind of money, Redding/Easton are a better option IMO.

[andthentherewere3]

Originally Posted by Stylo

Monroe and Orange are within 2 miles of each other driving to Stamford.

What? Within two miles of each other? Orange is several miles from Monroe. How do you get two miles?

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by andthentherewere3

What? Within two miles of each other? Orange is several miles from Monroe. How do you get two miles?

Driving to Stamford, they're both ~35 miles away. Monroe is the better drive admittedly, but any drive to Stamford is awful from east.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Stylo

Monroe and Orange are within 2 miles of each other driving to Stamford. Yes, Monroe has the advantage of backroads. But I can't imagine wanting to do that drive over a train commute.

The problem with Orange is that you're either on 95 or 15 from the very beginning of traffic. With Monroe, you can take backroads and hop on in Fairfield or drive further down and pick it up in Westport to avoid that initial bottleneck going from Trumbull through Fairfield.

DW will start commuting to Stamford 4-5 days a week next week, and since it's looking it MIGHT be a permanent move, we're weighing our options. I can tell you that while Orange has great schools and beautiful neighborhoods, we will not even consider it. It's just too far out of the way.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

The problem with Orange is that you're either on 95 or 15 from the very beginning of traffic. With Monroe, you can take backroads and hop on in Fairfield or drive further down and pick it up in Westport to avoid that initial bottleneck going from Trumbull through Fairfield.

DW will start commuting to Stamford 4-5 days a week next week, and since it's looking it MIGHT be a permanent move, we're weighing our options. I can tell you that while Orange has great schools and beautiful neighborhoods, we will not even consider it. It's just too far out of the way.

Train isn't option for her?

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Stylo

Train isn't option for her?

Not really. It would require a drive to New Haven or Milford, catching the train, and waiting at the station 17 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the afternoon due to the company shuttle schedule. It is a lot of hassle. Driving is absolutely out of the question. It will take her 1.5 hours + each way daily during rush hour.

I'm very much an advocate of sacrificing square footage to live close to work.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by Stylo

Shelton's high school CAPT scores increased a lot in 2012. So did nearby Foran.

According to that link, Shelton is now surprisingly close to Trumbull and Monroe in the rankings. While Foran may have seen gains as well, their ranking is still quite a bit off of Shelton's.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

Not really. It would require a drive to New Haven or Milford, catching the train, and waiting at the station 17 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the afternoon due to the company shuttle schedule. It is a lot of hassle. Driving is absolutely out of the question. It will take her 1.5 hours + each way daily during rush hour.

I'm very much an advocate of sacrificing square footage to live close to work.

Unless you're wealthy, working in Stamford and wanting things like good schools, an easy commute, home ownership is such a hassle.

You ever consider Fairfield? Train commute from there would be pretty easy.