[T2091]

I have been accepted into a PA program at the University of Bridgeport and will be moving to the area from Phoenix in January for school. I had heard about the area and got to see some of it when I came for my interview. I know I don't want to live around the school or in the downtown area where I stayed at the Holiday Inn. Where would you suggest would be a good place to call home for the next two years? People had said Black Rock was nicer. I want to have a 10-20 minute drive to campus if possible. Thanks

[Stylo]

Black Rock, Fairfield, most of Stratford. I wouldn't go further than Milford to keep it under 20 min. All nice options.

Fairfield or Black Rock are probably ideal just to avoid having to use 95, which can get messy.

[T2091]

Thanks, Stylo! Any areas of Black Rock and Fairfield are safe and nice?

[Stylo]

All of Fairfield is nice. Black Rock is fine except far east Black Rock where it starts to get a little dicey. Generally the closer to Fairfield, the better. Black Rock will generally be cheaper. Keep in mind Black Rock is a neighborhood of Bridgeport, not its own town/city. Most of my FU/SHU/UofB friends rented in Bridgeport exclusively. Many lived in the Brooklawn area since it was relatively safe and cheap.

[jesse_f]

T2091, congrats on your next step. Sacred Heart Univ and Fairfield Univ are both in Fairfield (SHU is a few min closer to Bridgeport), I imagine both would be good resources for finding student housing off campus. Like Stylo said, there's no unsafe area of Fairfield at all, and Black Rock is also very nice (and on the water). There are plenty of students around so it shouldn't be a problem.

[T2091]

Thanks, Jesse. I'll keep looking into the Black Rock area. Is it mainly houses for rent or are there apartment complexes? Coming from AZ there are tons of complexes it just didn't seem like that when I visited the University.

[Beeker2211]

There are a few complexes, but they are much more likely to be Condos owned individually rather than corporately managed. Most rental units will be houses, generally Victorian style three stories, with the apartments occupying a floor each. There are some Row House/Town Houses that are in the general area but I'm unaware of their condition honestly.

[T2091]

Ok thanks! I guess I should also add I'm a huge road cyclist so I'm assuming the Black Rock area would be safe to be riding around the streets?

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Budget?

[T2091]

I'd say max $1100. One bedroom or studio is fine. Don't need much space.