Vernon/Rockville (Hartford, New Britain, Bristol: housing, high school, crime)

[purplecatfish]

Why is it that when I look at these post about Connecticut, Vernon is getting such a bad rap? I've lived in Vernon for 10+ years now and it has only gotten better since we have lived here? At one time yes, probably about 5-6 years ago the Rockville section of Vernon was bad I will admit that but since then the worst road of all Village Street has been taken down house by house and those (the dealers/addicts) have moved on to Manchester and East Hartford. There are sections of town that don't have as much money as others but it's nothing like it was then.

Vernon has a great small town feel to it. Most of the people are very friendly and helpful. There are family's that have live here all their lives and I've never had the problem like you do in some of the town with $$ of feeling like an outsider. When we first bought our house and moved in most of our neighbors came over to say hello and introduce themselves. I can put things out on my front lawn and not have to worry about it being stolen or vandalized. I can let my daughter play outside and not have to worry about a drive by. Every year our town has a big 4th of July display and people from all over come to see it not just the towns people. I've never heard of gang activity in the schools unlike some of the other schools in Connecticut. I've never heard of a student bringing a hand gun or knife to school in Vernon. The schools are very good here. They have lot of programs to help children that need it.

IMO when you read a post by someone that is saying Vernon is "rougher", "not nice", "scummy" these are people that don't actually live in the area and or haven't been here in the last 4 or 5 years. Vernon is a nice place to live, not a high $$ town but a nice and affordable (as far as Connecticut goes) town in Connecticut.

[Dragondog]

Actually Vernon/Rockville is a nice town. I live here!
The old Rockville section is being revived- and I live in the historical section- very pleasant. Nice people, no pretension, helpful and real.

Housing here is a real bargain. Great school system- and Rockville High is where the former Governor of VA Mark Warner graduated from.

Tolland county is cheap- fair taxes good services, and housing will go up in years to come.

[MEOWKATS4]

I also live in Vernon! I have lived in many towns in Connecticut when I was growing up. Torrington, New Milford, Brookfield, New Britain, Hartford, Tolland, Bristol (Forestville), Ellington and now Vernon. The first 5 Towns I was in grammer school. I ended up going to Hartford for my High School years. Then moved on my own. The most rememberable nicest Towns were: New Milford, Brookfield and Ellington. New Milford in the 1960's was so rural now it has built up so much. Back then most New Yorkers had summer homes on Lake Candlewood. Now they are all year round homes. Ellington, I lived there a few years ago. I loved the farm land spreads and the feeling of Country. Now Ellington is on its way of building up. I am not yet at retirement age, so I have no idea yet if I will retire here or move on. I do like Vernon/Rockville, but found in the past few years many people are moving away to other towns. Is it because we are becoming so congested?

[Dragondog]

Vernon/Rockville gets a bad rap

compared to other regions of the country it offers low crime, affordable housing
great shopping and much more.