[Zuriel]

There's really no reason for this post besides curiosity. I'm mostly a lurker on this site nowadays, but I enjoy reading what you guys have to say.

To clarify on the term "blue collar:"

Inexpensive town to live in (by ct standards of course)
Town has nice amenities (parks, downtown, etc.)
Low Crime

I always here about the same great towns, and I guess wondering about some other "hidden gems."

Thanks

[Wilton2ParkAve]

Milford.

[MikefromCT]

Is Milford considered blue-collar? It always seemed more middle/upper-middle-class to me, and some of seems kind of pricy since there's beachfront property.
Southington comes to mind. Not cheap, but inexpensive by CT standards since most of the town was developed in the 1960s and '70s, so most housing is average-sized ranches. The downtown area is really nice and has been revitalized, complete with a town green and mostly mom-and-pop restaurants and businesses occupying storefronts. I had read someplace that 30% of residents work in manufacturing, which is impressive since this is such a dwindling industry. Good schools, too.
I also think Seymour fits this bill to a degree. I don't know it well, but having driven through there it seems like it has similar characteristics of Southington - a nice downtown, strong manufacturing base, reinvestment in Main street, etc.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by MikefromCT

Is Milford considered blue-collar? It always seemed more middle/upper-middle-class to me, and some of seems kind of pricy since there's beachfront property.

Go on Realtor.com and it's clear that a good chunk of available real estate is $250k+. So yes, it's more expensive than a lot of blue collar towns. When you compare it to the ultra wealthy towns of lower FFC, it's affordable - but not compared to your Torrington's or your Norwich's.

That said, there are a lot of blue collar neighborhoods in Milford. Most of Devon, for instance. There's a wider range of socioeconomics in Milford than a lot of CT towns. Devon/Meadowside is solidly blue collar middle class for the most part. Much of non-coastal east side/Milford Lawns area is middle class. North Milford is middle class with a decent amount of upper middle class. Gulf Street, Morningside, Woodmont, Laurel Beach, and other coastal areas are mostly upper middle to upper class (sorry, it might not be the upper class in Westport, but if you can afford a home over 1 million - you're upper class in the rest of the country). I live in a pretty middle class neighborhood for Milford, and most of my neighbors are professionals.

There are few towns in western CT that can be comfortably labeled as stereotypically blue collar anymore, but there's lots in eastern CT.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by MikefromCT

I also think Seymour fits this bill to a degree. I don't know it well, but having driven through there it seems like it has similar characteristics of Southington - a nice downtown, strong manufacturing base, reinvestment in Main street, etc.

I think Seymour is shedding its blue-collar identity to some extent. A lot of large homes have been built there in the past 10 years. It's a really solid town though.

[willow wind]

Clinton- lots of under $ 300,000 houses. Walkable Main St. and down the beach and marina areas: it's on the water, beach, marinas, lots of nearby shopping. Lot of recreational facilities. Very,very safe.

Cromwell, many under $ 275,000 homes. Basically developed 1940-'s-1960's. Many newer upscale homes and lots of various condos, but the basic single family housing stock on the east side of town is older. Plenty of shopping, Marina on the CT River. Tons of quiet, safe neighborhoods, many of the blue collar residents have deep roots in town. Families know families for generations.

.

[Mike 75]

I think it's more about the culture and the community. A town that may not have the greatest amenities, the nicest homes or the lowest crime rate, but the residents identify with the town and are proud of the association and there is a strong sense of community. Towns like Ansonia, Derby, Naugatuck, West Haven and East Haven.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Stylo

I think Seymour is shedding its blue-collar identity to some extent. A lot of large homes have been built there in the past 10 years. It's a really solid town though.

Yeah, Seymour is definitely not a "blue collar" town anymore IMO.

I'd say a good blue collar town is East Haven. Also Ansonia and Derby.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by coachlee

i live in the blue collar town in suburb in Shanghai city ,in China .but we have many amenties provid us convenience to rich our life .absolutely i got a proper job in this town ,the salary is not bad for me to raise my family.
Shanghai has the traffic very developed ,so i can reach the central city by the light rail .

welcome to shanghai !

The OP is asking about blue collar towns in the State of Connecticut in the United States. Jay

[mels]

Originally Posted by Wilton2ParkAve

Milford.

Disagree. Milford is in no way blue collar compared to your valley towns (Derby, Naugatuck), East Haven, etc. It is more affordable than most Fairfield County towns? Absolutely. There are pockets of "blue collar" in Milford but it is too economically diverse to paint the whole city with such a broad brush.