The Scoop on Fairfield and Trumbull (Bridgeport: estate, apartments, travel)

[B_MA]

I have heard very favorable comments (about schools, community feel and involvement) describing Trumbull and Fairfield from a variety of sources. I did a quick search in this forum to see if I can get answers to the following, so my apologies if any of these questions seem repetitive. I am also fully aware of the fact that the answers to these are very subjective, and that the questions may not be received well, but I am trying to get some very honest / blatant opinions. Thanks in advance. Again, these are questions regarding both of the above-mentioned towns.

1) Is there a "right side of the tracks/highway" sense within the town, meaning do people start off in certain areas and feel the need to trade up to the "better" neighborhoods? If so, what are the least coveted neighborhoods?

2) Are the publics schools good no matter where one lives within the town limits?

3) What kind of single family home can I expect in the 300-500K range in terms of lot size, child safety (crime, street traffic), proximity to amenities?

4) What is a realistic travel time to NYC (rush hour vs off peak, train vs car)?

Many thanks

[mtz]

In both Fairfied and Trumbull, try to stay away from where they both border Bridgeport. Schools in both town are very good with a few exceptions. Commute will be easier from Fairfield, but still will be a nightmare unless you leave for work around 6am.

I am doing the same research as you, I am opting for Trumbull.

Originally Posted by B_MA

I have heard very favorable comments (about schools, community feel and involvement) describing Trumbull and Fairfield from a variety of sources. I did a quick search in this forum to see if I can get answers to the following, so my apologies if any of these questions seem repetitive. I am also fully aware of the fact that the answers to these are very subjective, and that the questions may not be received well, but I am trying to get some very honest / blatant opinions. Thanks in advance. Again, these are questions regarding both of the above-mentioned towns.

1) Is there a "right side of the tracks/highway" sense within the town, meaning do people start off in certain areas and feel the need to trade up to the "better" neighborhoods? If so, what are the least coveted neighborhoods?

2) Are the publics schools good no matter where one lives within the town limits?

3) What kind of single family home can I expect in the 300-500K range in terms of lot size, child safety (crime, street traffic), proximity to amenities?

4) What is a realistic travel time to NYC (rush hour vs off peak, train vs car)?

Many thanks

[JayCT]

B_MA - Hi and welcome to Connecticut. Both Trumbull and Fairfield are excellent towns with excellent schools and a lot to offer. Trumbull to me is a typical post WWII suburb with a lot of very nice typical subdivision type neighborhoods. It is primarily a middle-class to upper middle-class town. Fairfield is a more urban and older town with a wide range of housing options. Fairfield offers everything from small starter apartments to stately mansions and estates. It is more diverse than Trumbull. It also is located on Long Island Sound and has four beaches for resident use. I beleive though that they offer Trumbull residents the option of using the beach.

There are no truly "bad" parts of these towns, just some that are less desireable than others. In Trumbull, generally stay north of the Merritt Parkway. There is a public housing project off Reservoir Avenue over the line in Bridgeport that has issues. In Fairfield, the more desireable neighborhoods are to the north and west. Tunxis Hill and Grasmere which are along the eastern border of town are nice and more modest but don't have the reputation of other neighborhoods. Nothing wrong with these areas at all. They are a great place to find a nice home at a more reasonable price.

You tend to get a little more for your money in Trumbull than Fairfield. You should check realtor.com for listings in your price range. $300k does not buy a lot in either town. Maybe a modest cape or ranch.

Getting to New York City during rush hour will be a challenge if you drive. Parking there can be very expensive. i would strongly recommend going by train. The trip will take approximately an hour and 15 minutes depending on which train you catch. There are several express trains from Bridgeport that can make the trip a little faster. Look at the Metro-North schedule to see what would work best for you. Also note that parking at Fairfield station can be difficult. You might consider parking in Bridgeport where there ar emore options. The State is constructing a new train station off Black Rock Turnpike on the east side of Fairfield which will have 1500 parking spaces. That station though won't open for a couple of years. Hope this helps, Jay

[B_MA]

Thanks very much to both of you... I work mostly from home so that Trumbull might be an option.