[keri h]

The further west in CT you go, the snootier it gets...ESPECIALLY southwestern CT. Sorry, but the truth hurts, guys. I have lived in a few parts of the state and I hate pretty much all of it. Northeast CT (Union to Thompson to Killingly to Windham) is a pretty area.. Alot of rednecks, though. A mix of all economic groups. Same with southeastern (Plainfield to Groton) ESPECIALLY the shoreline. Alittle snooty, but beautiful and no way near as pretentious as fairfield county. Windham is nice, but some parts of Willimantic are... meh...

The most Affordable area is mid-eastern CT (KIllingly to Norwich to Windham. ) USUALLY in the 200-300 range. And this justifies the cluelessness of SW CT dwellers....NOT EVERYONE CAN AFFORD A MILLION DOLLAR HOME! I sure as hell cant.....this is why My husband and I own a $ 250000 duplex (and it is a NICE one....)

Not everyone in CT is rich. My husband and I make less than $60,000 a year and live just fine. I drive A Chrysler and Don't care if what my neighbors own (or don't for that matter).



I would not recommend MOST of ct if you are not super wealthy...as far as raising kids unless you are overly competitive cookie-cutter stepford McMom who wants a McLife (read: PHONY, Rich and White). Kids are mean. But I guess they are everywhere.
Ct is expensive and should be divided by the CT river so that EASTERN CT is part of Rhode Island and WESTERN is annexed to NY.


Bottom line is if you MUST move to this poor excuse of a state, Windham, Colchester, Mansfield and the southeast shoreline are probably best.
Of course this is My opinion and I think and analyze too much..



I want to move to New Hampshire or Southern Maine.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by keri h

Ct is expensive and should be divided by the CT river so that EASTERN CT is part of Rhode Island and WESTERN is annexed to NY.


Bottom line is if you MUST move to this poor excuse of a state, Windham, Colchester, Mansfield and the southeast shoreline are probably best.
Of course this is My opinion and I think and analyze too much..



I want to move to New Hampshire or Southern Maine.

So because western CT is different than eastern CT, they shouldn't be part of the same state? That's what makes CT a great place to live - the amazing difference in such a small geographic area. Wealthy Fairfield County, the quaint Litchfield Hills, eastern CT shoreline, Hartford area, rural eastern CT, etc.

And you complain that eastern CT has rednecks (which I disagree with btw) - you probably won't like NH or Maine.

I lived in New Canaan for many years. Yes there are incredibly wealthy people, but my family was upper middle class and the home we lived in was owned by my grandmother. In fact, many people who live in NC are your average Joe's who work very hard and are proud to call the town home. Sure you get snooty people, but I find the most pretentious are those who have middle incomes yet are driving a Lexus or living in a McMansion. There are many of them in northern Fairfield County and the Hartford burbs - people who don't know what real wealth is, and don't understand that being flashy is not considered classy.

I agree - I think you analyze too much.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by keri h

The further west in CT you go, the snootier it gets...ESPECIALLY southwestern CT. Sorry, but the truth hurts, guys. I have lived in a few parts of the state and I hate pretty much all of it. Northeast CT (Union to Thompson to Killingly to Windham) is a pretty area.. Alot of rednecks, though. A mix of all economic groups. Same with southeastern (Plainfield to Groton) ESPECIALLY the shoreline. Alittle snooty, but beautiful and no way near as pretentious as fairfield county. Windham is nice, but some parts of Willimantic are... meh...

The most Affordable area is mid-eastern CT (KIllingly to Norwich to Windham. ) USUALLY in the 200-300 range. And this justifies the cluelessness of SW CT dwellers....NOT EVERYONE CAN AFFORD A MILLION DOLLAR HOME! I sure as hell cant.....this is why My husband and I own a $ 250000 duplex (and it is a NICE one....)

Not everyone in CT is rich. My husband and I make less than $60,000 a year and live just fine. I drive A Chrysler and Don't care if what my neighbors own (or don't for that matter).

I would not recommend MOST of ct if you are not super wealthy...as far as raising kids unless you are overly competitive cookie-cutter stepford McMom who wants a McLife (read: PHONY, Rich and White). Kids are mean. But I guess they are everywhere. Ct is expensive and should be divided by the CT river so that EASTERN CT is part of Rhode Island and WESTERN is annexed to NY.

Bottom line is if you MUST move to this poor excuse of a state, Windham, Colchester, Mansfield and the southeast shoreline are probably best.
Of course this is My opinion and I think and analyze too much..

I want to move to New Hampshire or Southern Maine.

You don't like rednecks. You don't like the wealthy. Sorry to ask but who do you like? Your post contains many generalizations and insults to those of us who have worked hard for what we have. Connecticut is more than just yuppies and rednecks. There are a lot of nice people there if you bothered to look and not judge everyone by their cover. JMHO Jay

[jjbradleynyc]

Originally Posted by keri h

Bottom line is if you MUST move to this poor excuse of a state, Windham, Colchester, Mansfield and the southeast shoreline are probably best.
Of course this is My opinion and I think and analyze too much..

I want to move to New Hampshire or Southern Maine.

I think the bottomline is that you can be happy anywhere, as long as you have a supportive group of people around you--family, friends, community, hobbies/groups/interests, etc.

It looks as if you are using "mass generalization" for all areas of CT. This is a very limited (and many would say ignorant) view of any geographical area. All states & countries have good & bad people/good & bad regions, but if you are a happily adjusted person with a productive and good attitude, you can usually see through the people with "issues and attitudes" and find some downright really good people anywhere you live.

I do think you should visit people I know in Fairfield County. They are the best people I've ever met. And I've lived in TN, AZ, CA, MS, TX, GA, & NY.

[andthentherewere3]

Originally Posted by keri h

I want to move to New Hampshire or Southern Maine.

Bye-bye.

[ctnewbie]

We moved here about 1 year ago with my teenage daughters. We have met some nice people, however, for the most part this town is very snoby! We moved from the midwest where people say "good morning" when you pass them on the street. We tried that several times here, and got a look as if to say "why are you even talking to me". We were shocked. There is no such thing as driver courtesy...if you dont drive fast enough, they are right up your bumper. I am originally from NY and I thought they were aggressive drivers. The drivers in New Canaan make NY'ers look like sweethearts! I can't even go into the school kids and the nasty, back stabbing stuff that goes on there. Lets just say that my kids have been miserable since moving here and now we are selling our house. From what I understand, you are better off in Ridgefield.

[ctnewbie]

Originally Posted by reppin_the_847

Yeah I've heard great things about Fairfield County. I'm planning to make a move from the northern suburbs of Chicago probably to Stamford at some point early next summer. Basically Stamford is my top choice for a suburban location outside of NYC. I'd rather not live in the city at this point for a few reasons. But in any case that express train service to NYC seems like a stellar transportation option (40 minutes to NYC? The commute to NYC probably takes longer from some of the 5 borough's in the city itself), and since I'm a finance / marketing double major, the area also presents many job opportunities, especially in finance. UBS has a huge trading floor right in Stamford, and there are numerous hedge funds based in Stamford and Greenwich. And then of course again there is the easy access to Manhattan via the train if I end up working in the city. Yet I can have access to relative peace & quiet and the beautiful Long Island Sound when I need respite from the noise & congestion of New York. Anyone have any feedback on this?

Reppin:

We moved to New Canaan from Barrington, what a culture shock! you are definately better off in Stamford. You will meet nicer people and have much shorter access to NYC. Stamford and Greenich are definately the hedge fund capitals of the area, there are also a few more located in Norwalk and Westport...all easliy reached from Stamford. Lots of luck to you!

[flavorPacket]

Originally Posted by ctnewbie

We moved here about 1 year ago with my teenage daughters. We have met some nice people, however, for the most part this town is very snoby! We moved from the midwest where people say "good morning" when you pass them on the street. We tried that several times here, and got a look as if to say "why are you even talking to me". We were shocked. There is no such thing as driver courtesy...if you dont drive fast enough, they are right up your bumper. I am originally from NY and I thought they were aggressive drivers. The drivers in New Canaan make NY'ers look like sweethearts! I can't even go into the school kids and the nasty, back stabbing stuff that goes on there. Lets just say that my kids have been miserable since moving here and now we are selling our house. From what I understand, you are better off in Ridgefield.

ctnewbie, it seems that you picked an appropriate user name. Nothing you've described has much to do with being snobby, but rather with being a type-A east coaster. You and your children are miserable because you don't have thick enough skin. If you hadn't said you were from the Midwest, we still could have guessed.

People in this area are interested in achieving (particularly in a financial sense), and the further southwest in CT you go, the more you feel this sentiment. In CT the default is to be reserved and hard working. That is why people don't say Hi on the street and drive with punctuality in mind.

I guess it wasn't the right fit for you, but it doesn't seem that this was due to a snobby environment.

[Smallville]

I don't know, since I've never been there myself.

I heard through word of mouth that it's snobby, but I don't know.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by ctnewbie

Reppin:

We moved to New Canaan from Barrington, what a culture shock! you are definately better off in Stamford. You will meet nicer people and have much shorter access to NYC.

Wow! I've spent over a decade working in Stamford and New Canaan interacting extensively with residents of each community. I live in one of the few blue-collar middle-class towns left in this state and i have to say i don't feel that it's even possible to compare friendliness between Stamford and New Canaan. New Canaan wins that contest, by a landslide. Stamford is a cosmopolitan city. To me, "cosmopolitan" is a coded way of saying: It's rude, arrogant, and full of poseurs. Stamford was reasonably friendly 10 years ago, before the economies of scale spiraled out of control, forcing out quite a few "average middle-class" people. The new breed of Stamford residents that marched in with their over-extended credit lines are much more pugnacious than anyone i've encountered in New Canaan.