[hconstan]

Hi,

My family and I just moved to North Haven from California. I've been looking at houses in North Haven, Orange, Branford, Woodbridge, Milford and Wallingford. I was wondering about Ansonia? There are a lot of well priced, cookie-cutter style, brand new homes in Ansonia in the 270k-300k range which appeal to me, but there are also a ton of foreclosures in that area. Is the area economically depressed? How are Ansonia schools? We have 2 kids, ages 5 & 8.

TIA,

Heather

[NewJeffCT]

Ansonia, and neighboring Derby, are two primarily blue collar towns that have seen better days. Any of the towns you listed above might be more expensive, but should give you better schools and better value over the long haul.

The schools in both towns are near the bottom in terms of test scores (both SAT and CMT)

[Mike 75]

Ansonia has seen better days. Used to be a thriving industrial town with lots of blue collar jobs. Now, along with Derby, its probably the least desirable town in the Valley. Schools are below average, crime is above average.

Its really nothing like the other towns you mentioned. Its probably closest to Wallingford, but that's still quite a stretch.

Edit: Just after posting, realized NewJeffCT and I have almost identical posts.

[Stylo]

If you can afford the other towns, do that.

I would only consider Ansonia with a more limited budget than you have.

Schools generally underperform.

[willow wind]

The reason you see so many new homes for what seems a much more reasonable amount of money compared to the other towns is demographics and school systems. The schools do not compare to the other towns you have considered.

Orange and Woodbridge are part of the same regional school system, although grade schools are in each of three individual towns which make up the school district. The district is called Amity Regional and includes the towns of Orange, Woodbridge & Bethany. This is the best performing school district of the towns you are looking at. The other school systems are good, but not to this caliber.

[FILF]

Ansonia schools are closer to the bottom of the list than the top. Stay away if you want your kids to actually learn something.

[hconstan]

ok thanks everybody! darn...

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Take a pass on Ansonia. It isn't a dangerous place by any stretch, and it could be a decent option for someone that doesn't need the school system though. You might want to take a look at Seymour. It's still relatively affordable and the schools are about average.

[hconstan]

How about Beacon Falls? How are schools there? Thanks for all the great info!

[Stylo]

I second Seymour. Also, Branford and Wallingford are good affordable towns on your list. Orange/Milford/Woodbridge are going to generally be the most expensive, although Milford does have a good amount of housing in your price range. Woodbridge not so much.