[KevinG21]

Roger: Thanks, good to know. I know that no area will ever be perfect in a lower income city like this, but I feel better if I am out of the trouble area, which it looks like I would be.


Hvexpat: Based on the replies I was getting and from the times I have been in Torrington, I was envisioning Amsterdam so it's good to see your post, so thank you. Seems like a very good comparison. I'm pretty familiar with Amsterdam, and don't think I'd want to live there but at the same time think I could make it work if necessary.


MrGompers: Thanks, also sounds like Pittsfield is a good comparison if it wasn't quite as bad as Amsterdam. But using both of those cities as guides in very helpful. For now, I am looking to keep my budget modest for the short term, and eventually and hopefully settle into a better option over the long term. This is why right now, schools are a non-concern to me.

Lincoln: I'll be working in a few cities, which is why I am trying to get a central location. This would be the Hartford and the Bridgeport area, and intermediate points sometimes like a Bristol or New Britain. I do get fuel reimbursement, thankfully. This is also why Torrington is a little more north then I really want to be and why I'd love Naugatuck if I could find something!

[Matrix2791]

Downtown maybe rough, but there are really some nice rural like residential areas in Torrington.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

I'd live in Derby or Ansonia any day over Torrington. Both have very nice working class sections and they are geographically closer to things to do.

Those are good suggestions, though not sure how feasible $750/mo is.

[JayCT]

Torrington is an old mill town that has seen better days. It held on for years longer than other mill towns primarily because it's main employer, The Torrington Company, hung on longer than most. The problem with Torrington though is location. It is not near major highways or employment centers so it was hit hard when the company closed. That said the eastern side of Torrington, called Torringford, is a far suburb of greater Hartford. It is the first larger lower cost higher-density community west of Hartford's affluent Farmington River Valley suburbs. You will see a decent number of Hartford/Farmington workers living there in small newer homes. A couple of newer shopping centers were built there along Route 202 in recent years.

I do not agree that Torrington's downtown is rundown. It is old but there are some real treasures there including the wonderful Warner Theater, the charming Yankee Pedlar Inn and some good old-fashioned restaurants.

Looking at where you will be working though, I agree that Torrington would not be the best. Naugatuck, Beacon Falls, Seymour, Prospect, Wolcott or Bristol would be better. I would just keep looking though, something is bound to come up in these communities. Jay

[hvexpatinct]

Check Prime Publishers for rentals in the area if you haven't already. You might be able to find something in a nicer and more Central town if you are ok with a carriage house or in law type setup.

[LilyMae521]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Torrington is an old mill town that has seen better days. It held on for years longer than other mill towns primarily because it's main employer, The Torrington Company, hung on longer than most. The problem with Torrington though is location. It is not near major highways or employment centers so it was hit hard when the company closed. That said the eastern side of Torrington, called Torringford, is a far suburb of greater Hartford. It is the first larger lower cost higher-density community west of Hartford's affluent Farmington River Valley suburbs. You will see a decent number of Hartford/Farmington workers living there in small newer homes. A couple of newer shopping centers were built there along Route 202 in recent years.

I do not agree that Torrington's downtown is rundown. It is old but there are some real treasures there including the wonderful Warner Theater, the charming Yankee Pedlar Inn and some good old-fashioned restaurants.

Looking at where you will be working though, I agree that Torrington would not be the best. Naugatuck, Beacon Falls, Seymour, Prospect, Wolcott or Bristol would be better. I would just keep looking though, something is bound to come up in these communities. Jay

This is very accurate, imo.

[Raider111]

I know of a cop in Torrington. Apparently there is a lot of halfway houses there now for ex cons and ex drug addicts, unfortunately the "ex" part doesn't apply to all. Good for business I guess (cops that is)

[KevinG21]

Originally Posted by hvexpatinct

Check Prime Publishers for rentals in the area if you haven't already. You might be able to find something in a nicer and more Central town if you are ok with a carriage house or in law type setup.

That's a nice website, I appreciate it.

[EUPL]

ehhh Torrington......find something better.

[Henry10]

Originally Posted by KevinG21

Lincoln: I'll be working in a few cities, which is why I am trying to get a central location. This would be the Hartford and the Bridgeport area, and intermediate points sometimes like a Bristol or New Britain.

You said equidistant, but then are asking abut Torrington. Based on your geography Torrington would be a no go.

I would instead look into Bristol, New Britain, Naugatuck. Maybe you'll get lucky in Seymour or Southington for $ 750.

If you found something in Bristol for example, you'll still have to drive 30-45 minutes to get to Hartford or Bridgeport at rush hour. So you'll do plenty of driving between Hartford and Bridgeport.

And save your joy-rides for weekends, when you can actually drive out further and explore more areas.