[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Stylo

That kind of stretches the need to be within 90 minutes of FFC though...

We really can't give any useful advice without knowing where the job is.

Essex to mid-Fairfield County is not even an hour. It's well within the OP's requirements.

That being said, I do think north central and northwestern CT is where they should focus.

[hvexpatinct]

Woodbury/Bethlehem and Litchfield/Northfield/Bantam would likely be good matches.. horses and farming are widespread and are part of the local culture. Housing stock with land under $600K is very tight though - just a few houses on the market with your acreage requirements, and they'll all need at least some updating. I've seen 5 acre properties for under $300k in the recent past, but the houses were fairly distressed.

Morris and Goshen are good suggestions but availability is low there too.

[Stylo]

You get a lot for the money in the Durham area:

105 Middlefield Rd, Durham, CT 06422 - Home For Sale and Real Estate Listing - realtor.com®
380 Stage Coach Rd, Durham, CT 06422 - Home For Sale and Real Estate Listing - realtor.com®
114 Maiden Ln, Durham, CT 06422 - Home For Sale and Real Estate Listing - realtor.com®
239 N Parker Hill Rd, Killingworth, CT 06419 - Home For Sale and Real Estate Listing - realtor.com®

This place in Bethany is a great find, with excellent schools:

77 N Humiston Dr, Bethany, CT 06524 - Home For Sale and Real Estate Listing - realtor.com®

[NewJeffCT]

Oh, forgot all about Bethany. Excellent schools, potential for lots of land, and less than 30 minutes to both New Haven and Fairfield. Good find!

I'd be a bit concerned about the schools if you went out to Winchester or Wamogo (Warren-Morris-Goshen). Very nice and picturesque areas, and the Goshen Fair is a big event that draws statewide, but the schools are average to below average.

[JayCT]

The OP should realize that a rural area here in Connecticut is not the same as a rural area in the midwest. Connecticut is an old state and has been developed significantly over the past 350 years. You will not find a lot of large scale farms here. They tend to be smaller. Still within an hour or so of Fairfield County and New Haven is doable for some very nice areas. Pretty much all of Litchfield County would fit. Towns like Woodbury, Litchfield, Washington and Goshen come to mind. I would not recommend looking east of New Haven if you want to be an hour or so from Fairfield County. Jay

[CYP3A4]

Thank you all so much! Thanks for the links to the homes for sale too! We will be visiting in May and will definitely check out those areas.

My husband's office will be near Fairfield (can't remember exactly where), but he works from home the majority of the time and will only be driving to the office maybe once a week.

Thanks so much for all your help! This was way more information than I was expecting!

[Stylo]

I'd look at a number of towns. Still think you'll get the most bang for buck in the Durham area, and in Middlesex county. Litchfield is gorgeous but you'll have to go pretty far north to fit your budget. Southern Litchfield has gotten expensive with all the NY transplants. Durham is the same distance to Fairfield as Woodbury but significantly less expensive. It also has the largest agricultural fair in the state. Bethany is closer than all others mentioned and has some of the highest ranked schools in the state.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Something like this?

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Stratford, Ct. Resident

Something like this?

That's beautiful, and I actually know Tranquility Rd (got lost on my way to Quassy once). The road is just how it sounds - stunningly picturesque.

[PeteCA]

I live in Warren, Ct which is one of the smallest towns in Ct and has great farm land and many people have over 5 acres. It has great schools, and is about 1 hour and 20 minutes from New Haven. It is in a less expensive area of CT and one of the most beautiful parts of the state.

Pete