[Armyvet1]

I appreciate everyone's help and based on what you all have told me and what I've seen on YouTube, the town websites, and what I could read on google I'm very interested in Litchfield County and I would like to see Torrington and Winchester.

I'm coming to vacation in Connecticut, I'm going to spend my tourist dollars in Torrington and Winchester.

Orchards, farms, hills, color, amenities combined with a small town feel, a small New England state with lots of interior interests. Sounds like my kind of place.

They say Litchfield County has some good fishing.

[Lincolnian]

Originally Posted by Armyvet1

I appreciate everyone's help and based on what you all have told me and what I've seen on YouTube, the town websites, and what I could read on google I'm very interested in Litchfield County and I would like to see Torrington and Winchester.

I'm coming to vacation in Connecticut, I'm going to spend my tourist dollars in Torrington and Winchester.

Orchards, farms, hills, color, amenities combined with a small town feel, a small New England state with lots of interior interests. Sounds like my kind of place.

They say Litchfield County has some good fishing.

Enjoy your trip. There are many beautiful areas and interesting attractions in and outside of Torrington. It has been my personal experience that you can find decent places to live in nearly any city or town in Connecticut. The school issue is a concern for those with young children but many people who choose to live in cities like Hartford, Waterbury or Bridgeport often opt to send their children to private school.

I've got relatives that live in East Hartford, Manchester, New Britain, and Bristol. Those communities are often dismissed as undesirable by many on C-D. However, all my relatives live in beautiful areas where they truly enjoy their neighbors, the peacefulness, and conveniences of their location. Their homes are worth less but cost less than similar homes in surrounding, more desirable, communities. There is a piece of mind being able to payoff a home sooner and live with a lower monthly burden.

Good luck!

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by Lincolnian

I've got relatives that live in East Hartford, Manchester, New Britain, and Bristol. Those communities are often dismissed as undesirable by many on C-D. However, all my relatives live in beautiful areas where they truly enjoy their neighbors, the peacefulness, and conveniences of their location. Their homes are worth less but cost less than similar homes in surrounding, more desirable, communities.

Even our "lousy" cities have a decent number of safe/quiet neighborhoods. The caveat though is the emergency response times. If you do have an emergency and need assistance(police/fire/EMS) in cities like Bridgeport/New Haven/Hartford, response times are generally very poor. In "lessor" suburban communities like Manchester/Hamden/etc., response times are usually very reasonable.

[willow wind]

The other thing to worry about in the cities noted above are the mill rates. They are all vastly greater than surrounding towns. You'll find all over 40 mills. (40-46 or so)

Even Torrington is 36 mills. Whereas places like Harwinton, near Torrington, is 26 mills.

[Lincolnian]

East Hartford has a mill rate of around 42. However, my aunt's house is taxed at $3800. It's a raised ranch and similar homes in surrounding towns with lower mill rates are paying over $5000. Unless you have expensive cars it's still less of a tax burden. That same house (by the same builder) in the surrounding towns is $50 to $100k more as well.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by Stratford, Ct. Resident

Even our "lousy" cities have a decent number of safe/quiet neighborhoods. The caveat though is the emergency response times. If you do have an emergency and need assistance(police/fire/EMS) in cities like Bridgeport/New Haven/Hartford, response times are generally very poor. In "lessor" suburban communities like Manchester/Hamden/etc., response times are usually very reasonable.

Originally Posted by willow wind

The other thing to worry about in the cities noted above are the mill rates. They are all vastly greater than surrounding towns. You'll find all over 40 mills. (40-46 or so)

Even Torrington is 36 mills. Whereas places like Harwinton, near Torrington, is 26 mills.

Good point. Although i do generally agree with what Lincolnian is saying in that a house with 1300SF of living space and 10000SF of land area in city XXX will have a tax bill very similar to a 1300SF/10000SF property in an adjacent suburb. The mill rate in the city will be higher, but the actual value of the city property will be lower. On cars though, yeah, you'll get walloped if they're of higher value.

Originally Posted by Lincolnian

East Hartford has a mill rate of around 42. However, my aunt's house is taxed at $3800. It's a raised ranch and similar homes in surrounding towns with lower mill rates are paying over $5000. Unless you have expensive cars it's still less of a tax burden. That same house (by the same builder) in the surrounding towns is $50 to $100k more as well.

[bluecarebear]

Originally Posted by Computergeek

Torrington is in the middle of nowhere. It is ~30 mins from Waterbury, and ~60 from Bridgeport. I would head down south in CT a bit to Southington or The Valley (Seymour, Shelton, etc) and look there. They have affordable houses that arent that far from other cities (New Haven and Stamford).

Funny how 30 min is considered the middle of nowhere. Takes me 30 min to go about 10 miles here.

[bluecarebear]

Originally Posted by Armyvet1

I'm not sure what this mass exodus of northerns are,

20 years ago it made a ton of sense. Now, a move doesn't. The COL across the country has caught up with the North. I have found houses in the North for far less than the South, West, and PNW. Why not make a lateral move back to a place that offers more than another?

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by bluecarebear

20 years ago it made a ton of sense. Now, a move doesn't. The COL across the country has caught up with the North. I have found houses in the North for far less than the South, West, and PNW. Why not make a lateral move back to a place that offers more than another?

I am glad you said this. I have been amazed at how expensive some parts of the south can be. Sure you can find cheap homes out in the middle of nowhere but near a major employment center with good schools can be as pricey as any town in the Hartford area. Jay

[Henry10]

It is the Property tax, State Income Tax, and Sales tax, and heating costs -- where the differences really lie.