Anyone Move from CT to Raleigh NC area? (Bridgeport, Hartford: credit, property taxes)

[BigHouse9]

Originally Posted by jeremeyk482

Well last I checked, this is a CT forum, not a NE forum. And the post was comparing CT to Raleigh. You picture of the clear lake in NH is purely irrelevant.

The CT river is brown and gross, as is the Housatonic, Naugatuck, Candlewood Lake, Bantam and LI sound. I think we all need to face it. Lakes and rivers are not CTs high points. Of course, JViello would attempt to have you believe otherwise with his manipulating post showing us clear lakes in Northern NE (New Hampshire).

I think we all need to be careful what we post here because people are coming here for facts on CT. Also to the newcomers, don't believe everything you see on these boards. They are opinions (unless we're talking about that lake picture above posted by JViello, which doesn't represent CT at all.) This poster is, for some reason, attempting to have us believe otherwise.

Maybe because there isn't a New England forum and the point that is obviously lost is that it takes only a short amount of time to get to the spots as mentioned.

I have found that the lakes and streams in the New England area to be far nicer than the muddy waters and silt ridden lakes here in Raleigh. Perhaps you heard of the boater who drowned last Thursday (presumed) and they have not been able to find the body due to the condition of Jordan Lake? We have friends who went to Jordan Lake last year and went into the water. They ALL spent the next few days with some various form of rash from the water. However, I have been by plenty of water down here that is great.

I do a lot of hiking and I find that hiking in New England and CT is far better than here. It still does not stop me from enjoying hiking here in Raleigh.

I think most people apprecaite JViello's points and his good will for posting all the tremendous things about CT. They are accurate and clear points all around. It is too bad others can only see the negatives in such a beautiful state.

[Rich Lee]

Originally Posted by BigHouse9

Maybe because there isn't a New England forum and the point that is obviously lost is that it takes only a short amount of time to get to the spots as mentioned.

I have found that the lakes and streams in the New England area to be far nicer than the muddy waters and silt ridden lakes here in Raleigh. Perhaps you heard of the boater who drowned last Thursday (presumed) and they have not been able to find the body due to the condition of Jordan Lake? We have friends who went to Jordan Lake last year and went into the water. They ALL spent the next few days with some various form of rash from the water. However, I have been by plenty of water down here that is great.

I do a lot of hiking and I find that hiking in New England and CT is far better than here. It still does not stop me from enjoying hiking here in Raleigh.

I think most people apprecaite JViello's points and his good will for posting all the tremendous things about CT. They are accurate and clear points all around. It is too bad others can only see the negatives in such a beautiful state.

The question becomes, "who is the reader" on this forum. For someone new to the state of Connecticut or considering it on its merits, an out-of-state lake is irrelevant.

Most of us would agree if the tables were turned. Suppose that I wanted to know about hiking trails in North Carolina (and posted the inquiry on the NC Forum) and received a reponse on trails in neighboring Virginia. This isn't what I wanted.

I can appreciate that Connecticut is a small state. But it does have qualities and attributes. Going to neighborhing states for specifics must make some posted wonder why.

[USYANKEE]

Originally Posted by Stellaj

My husband and I are seriously considering a move to Raleigh. Has anyone from Fairfield County moved to North Carolina? Love it? Hate it?

I moved from CT in 2005 to NC. I am moving back to CT next month. 'Nuf said.

[lifeguard_bss]

I am on my way to Raleigh in a month and I am thrilled. I have spent my whole life in CT and MA and have seen quite a bit of Raleigh the last couple of years -- enough to make the move. Some reasons:
# The lakes and rivers ARE nicer in CT -- when they are not frozen solid.
# Traffic in CT is no better than Raleigh, and worse when you add snow.
# CT is rooted in "tradition" to the point where it cannot be progressive. THIS is why young people are moving to the Triangle -- to be a part of growing thriving industries, not union choked dying ones.
# The general populace in Raleigh is friendlier.
# The "mom and pop" stores that make New England somewhat different are quickly being swallowed by chains. This goes for stores and restaurants as well.
# The beaches are nicer on the NC coast, and unlike the bone jarring 65 degree water here, I can actually swim in 80+ degree water.
# Taxes in CT are mind boggling. MUCH more reasonable there.
# I just traded my 35 year old 2000 s/f house for a brand new 3000+ s/f house, and my taxes are less than half.
You can disagree with me if you want -- I don't much care if you do. Just offering my perspective on my reasons for moving for those with an open mind.

[JiminCT]

I used to think CT was a very special place. We actually left DC after 6 years to move back here (I live in the Farmington Valley).
Seems like the only progress is more chain big-box retail, more pizza places, and Dunkin Donut/Subway stands. More parochial corrupt politics run by people that should be in the cement business. People who turned a blind eye to that thug John Rowland...long before his jail time.

Scenery is still the selling point, but local corporate CONTROL is withering out, and a lot of the folks running these ships are looking for cheaper spots to do business. What I have found in my 38 years in CT is that mnay of the locals dont have a particular large view of the world....which is ultimately going to cost CT as well as New England as a whole. The economic control is shifting folks...out of the northeast. Better get used to that. Makes CT as nice place for the wealthy...

[skytrekker]

Originally Posted by JiminCT

I used to think CT was a very special place. We actually left DC after 6 years to move back here (I live in the Farmington Valley).
Seems like the only progress is more chain big-box retail, more pizza places, and Dunkin Donut/Subway stands. More parochial corrupt politics run by people that should be in the cement business. People who turned a blind eye to that thug John Rowland...long before his jail time.

Scenery is still the selling point, but local corporate CONTROL is withering out, and a lot of the folks running these ships are looking for cheaper spots to do business. What I have found in my 38 years in CT is that mnay of the locals dont have a particular large view of the world....which is ultimately going to cost CT as well as New England as a whole. The economic control is shifting folks...out of the northeast. Better get used to that. Makes CT as nice place for the wealthy...

All regions of the country suffer from the plethora of big box stores, chain eateries, Subways etc. To say CT alone has this problem is sort of unfair to say. The Washington DC area-my hometown suffers from more strip malls, big box stores etc then any area of New England.

Connecticut does have a problem with corrupt public officials; however that may be due to the rather antiquated concept of 'home rule' for its 169 towns.

CT still has among the most Fortune 500 companies in the nation. And although there has been slippage in recent years, (a problem that is not endemic to CT only) the state is a leader in new endeavors like Stem Cell Research- which many of these 'cheap areas' do not permit because of social 'backwardness' and a bible belt mentality. And New England still has the most concentrated number of renown colleges and Universities of ANY area of the nation- important for research and new ideas.

New England has yes a certain amount of provincialism and even parochialism; however the state leads the nation in many socially progressive areas; gay rights, best opportunities for women; a key leader for the environment and global climate change, programs for older adults and kids- I would not call that 'parochialism' but progressive. If you want to see socially 'regressive' I can name many areas of the country.

So while some may think the state is 'withering' I think the state is moving forward faster in many areas then some believe or understand.
It ranks near the top for quality of life, health of its citizens, and all people from child to Senior citizen.

If one thinks that other regions have a 'larger view of the world'- I again believe thats untrue- since all of New England ranks so highly on every conceivable scale of human existence- despite the corruption of some of our leaders- by in large they have done well in making CT a safe, beautiful and tolerant place to live- and it remains the state with the 1st or second highest per capita income.

[BigHouse9]

Lifeguard -

Living in Raleigh right now and trust me when I say traffic here is MUCH MUCH MUCH worse than in CT. Don't get fooled by the tax thing too as the government will get you any way they can. RE taxes are much cheaper but income tax and sales taxes are higher not to mention cost of goods here. The monthly water bills and HOA fees add up. It is all chain stores here in Raleigh and there is one on every corner. People in CT are wonderfull and friendly, you get what you give so I am sure you will find it the same in NC.

Best of luck to you as well.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by BigHouse9

Don't get fooled by the tax thing too as the government will get you any way they can.

I truly believe that you get what you pay for.

I still can't get over that NC taxes food bought in a supermarket. I can understand taxing restaurants, but food is a basic necessity. Jay

[lifeguard_bss]

Let me first address the traffic issue. I think when we speak of CT traffic it really depends where you are going to and from. I have a 26 mile commute that takes me about 35-40 minutes. Hartford is a parking lot in the morning, I can't imagine Raleigh can be worse than "stopped". I have had times in the winter where it took well over 1.5 hours to get to work because of the snow. I have been in touch with a guy I will be working with who is about 25 miles from work and it takes him 40 minutes to get to work. Sounds like the same deal to me.

Taxes -- No, you don't always get what you pay for. First off, in CT we pay enourmous amounts of money for states and municipalities to plow the roads -- not necessary in Raleigh. Also, TOWNS run the schools in CT, so anytime they want more money for something in the town, they hide behind things like "schools will suffer if we don't" while they have a gun to your head. I think it is far better for counties to operate the schools seperately from the tow because this position is FAR much more difficult to take there, and there is an economy of scale (not to mention consistency) that county operated schools afford.

[JViello]

Originally Posted by lifeguard_bss

Let me first address the traffic issue. I think when we speak of CT traffic it really depends where you are going to and from. I have a 26 mile commute that takes me about 35-40 minutes. Hartford is a parking lot in the morning, I can't imagine Raleigh can be worse than "stopped". I have had times in the winter where it took well over 1.5 hours to get to work because of the snow. I have been in touch with a guy I will be working with who is about 25 miles from work and it takes him 40 minutes to get to work. Sounds like the same deal to me.

You mean that 2 mile (maybe) stretch of 91 and 84 into the city? Yea that's about as bad as it gets in Hartford and it's a JOKE compared to cities like Atlanta or Charlotte.

How about 45 minutes of bumper to bumper for less than 10 miles of commute - that was Charlotte for me and all of it was interstate.

Anywhere else you wish to go is on a crowded light to light to light divided blvd (Think Berlin Turnpike much more congested).

Traffic is a LOT worse in the Southern metros, trust me. People around here who ***** or say it's bad have no idea. None.

P.S. I pass through DT Hartford via 84 every morning, so it's not like I don't experience it first hand - it's nothing, a minor hiccup.