thinking about moving from San Diego to Connecticut

[skytrekker]

There are also many pockets of Jewish communities that do not want to mix with non-Jews. They will not let their children play with your children.


Jews in fact are about 2-3% of the total population of Connecticut- there are a few Jewish neighborhoods- in the Hartford area, New Haven area and Fairfield county. The information above in italics by the Original poster presents information that is not accurate.

[JayCT]

We have several neighbors and friends that are Jewish and have never experienced people not wanting our kids to play with their kids. I also grew up in a town with a lot of Jewish people and never felt that. Of course they have more in commmon with each, just as Catholics and Protestants do with their religions, but generally I have found people to be open to other beliefs. Also while people here are reserved, I do not consider them to be unfriendly. that is why I suggest getting out and meeting people with similar interests. Jay

[CrissCT]

So-Cal we are moving from San Diego to the Hartford area soon. Our situation is a little different as we are originally from upstate NY and have only lived in San Diego 3 years. For me, I really missed the seasons, having a little land, "towns" (my native CA friends think it is the funniest term when I use it to describe an area) , and most of all being so far from our families. San Diego definitely is a different world and if I had family in San Diego and we had been raised here I don't think we would have even considered moving. I felt the same way moving to San Diego as you did when you lived in Connecticut. Good luck in whatever you decide!

[Family 5]

You might want to look into Trumbull. Schools are fantastic and the town has been placed on "top places to live and raise a family". Check out greatschools.com. I have 3 children, 4, 6, and 8 and I am also a real estate agent. I would be happy to help answer any questions you have and to guide you in the right direction. I also went to College in New Haven so I am familiar with the area as well. Feel free to email me: robertok@raveisre.com

Have a great day!

[wavehunter007]

Originally Posted by so-cal so-confused

Hello. I was hoping someone very familiar with Connecticut could direct me to the perfect town, with the perfect elementry schools and middle schools for my kids. I am having somewhat of an anxiety attach over possibly having to move from where I grew up and had my children, San Diego, to the total opposite world. I lived in Connecticut for five months a few years back and I absolutely hated it. My husband tells me that it was due to the area we lived in. We lived in New Haven on Whalley Ave. It was pretty traumatizing to me and my children and never thought I would have to go back there again. I am trying to do more research this time around so it is not a complete culture shock again, but there are so many little towns and I'm just not quite sure which is the best for my family. Any advice at all would be greatly appreciated.

Just a few other things to keep in mind………


It is not really fair to compare on old (much older than San Diego) city with a more suburban community in SOCAL. I think about 95% of the people in Connecticut would find the schools in urban New Haven problematic. Just as anyone in suburban Connecticut would find the schools in Watts or Compton scary and of poor quality. I think you should try to compare apples to apples so to speak.

If your husband will be working in New Haven on Whalley Avenue, my advice would be finding an apartment in Hamden or Branford. Branford is along the shore about 15 min from New Haven and is quite nice, has a ton of stores and restaurants and is far removed from the problems on urban New Haven. Hamden is very conveinet, but a bigger built-up city. I wrote this awhile back for another CA transplant but here is the break down of Connecticut –

it sounds as if you never left Walley Avenue in the 5 months you where in Connecticut –

AREAS & PEOPLE…People in Connecticut are really a reflection of people everywhere.

Southwest Connecticut (Stamford, Norwalk,…etc) is the fast lane - high salaries, high living costs, high real estate, suburban living, and somewhat plastic people (though not everyone). It is like a more polished version of southern California.

The New Haven area (New Haven, Hamden, and Branford) is middle of the road - with Yale at the center of many things. The New Haven area is a mix of nautical eastern Connecticut and urban and fast paced southwestern Connecticut. Theater, Art galleries, and restaurants are big in New Haven, the best in the State!

The Southeast coastal area (I-95 north/east of New Haven (Madison to Rhode Island) is fishing villages, clam shacks, coves, marshes, the beaches in summer. A plus in southeastern Connecticut - is proximity to the great beaches in Rhode Island (30 min) with sugar white and huge waves. Southeastern Connecticut/Coastal Rhode Island people are a pleasing mix of families, coastal dreamers, boat people, beach wanders, and relocated baby boomers from other areas.

The Hartford area - The best “big city in Connecticut, a little dull, and more New England than the New Haven and Southeast coastal areas. There are more good paying jobs in the Hartford area than the New Haven or Bridgeport area. The area offers any conceivable options for malls, restaurants, and entertainment. It’s also cleaner, safer, and far less crowed than SOCAL. It is probably Connecticut’s best big metro area.

Finally, as far as the weather goes – April through October is nice. Although summers are hotter and much more humid on the East Coast than the West Coast – it feels like summer here in June-September. No more of the June gloom like SOCAL. I spent a summer in Santa Barbara and wore a jacket for 4 months! In the Tri- State are (NY/NJ/CT) and the rest of the East Coast summer feels like what summer should feel like. Also, remember your coming from a dry climate (CA) to a humid climate (CT). This is the wet side of the mainland – so don’t expect the dry style climate of the West Coast. Think of it like your moving from Spain to Japan.

Also – the hype of winter is just that mostly – hype. We have had about 7 inches of snow since December 1st here in southern CT and most of the East Coast. The East Coast from Connecticut south - is nothing like the winters in the Western Mountains, the Midwest, or New England. It is NOT - cold/freezing/miserable or raining constantly in winter. In fact - most of Connecticut receives more sun than parts of Northern CA in winter. The last week it was in the 50’s and sunny

My wife jokes that our friends who moved to CA don’t call for 8 and half months, (April to early December) …then they call ten times in the 90 days of winter with the standard “oh so how’s the weather out there? (lol).

Good Luck!

[skytrekker]

The recreational assets alone here that are within an hour or 2 driving distance are amazing. I feel what others have said, on the thread thus far including former Californians, that you also will learn to love our beautiful state. Good luck.

[mbbnsb]

Check out STONINGTON area.

[donnas57]

Hi,

I work in New Haven County and yes, Whalley Ave can be a bit disappointing but you could live in Bethany (rural town about 8,000 people, farms, horses, or Orange (homes about 1/2-1 acre, closer to US1 for conenience ; about 14,000 people a little more pricey than Bethany. Or Woodbridge-apx 10,000 people, many are high end professionals 0 All 3 towns have great schools (use a regaional school system AMITY at the high school and Junior High level) and are close enough to enjoy the restaurants, Shubert Theater, Yale events but enjoy a rural or suburban setting. Connecticut Magazine rates towns (by population size) yearly and these 3 usually come out in top 10
Connecticut Magazine - Home - Rating the Towns

I also have worked in Westville (part of New Haven that borders Woodbridge) and love to bring people there-- Great architecture, well groomed neighborhoods and I always see people out walking with family and friends.

I live in Milford and I love the beaches, the fact that the town has a variety of commercial, retail, entertainment options - you get spoiled by the convenience. Tons of parks for families and sidewalks make it very easy to find yourself outside meeting your neighbors. Since Milford is home to over 50,000 people you can be sure you will find people that fit your bill. In addition to our public schools, we have Laurelton Hall(all girls private high school) Notre Dame (West Haven) all boys high school, or some take the train to Fairfield Prep or Notre Dame (coed) in Fairfield. In additon, there is the Hopkins School (very pricey) in New Haven, Hamden Hall - Hamden (short ride from any of these towns)


SO I hope I can offer you some help in finding the right home.