[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Yes, but it is not Greenwich-Darien-New Canaan-Westport expensive. You can still get a modest home in a decent neighborhood in Fairfield for under $300,000. Can't say that for the others. Jay

Eh. My best friend and his fiancée just bought a house in Fairfield (Stratfield). The home was [I think] 379k and will need some work. I can’t imagine what a < 300k house looks like in Fairfield.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

Eh. My best friend and his fiancée just bought a house in Fairfield (Stratfield). The home was [I think] 379k and will need some work. I can’t imagine what a < 300k house looks like in Fairfield.

It will likely look like this:

https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...4_M40888-72113

https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...5_M49609-69271

https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...5_M38371-77753

https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...4_M40336-06536

These are small, modest capes, colonials or ranches that may need some work but are certainly livable. There are also a number of condos under $300k as well. Jay

[7 Wishes]

Originally Posted by SailCT

It will be more affordable to rent just over the NY line in Westchester in a great town called Mamaroneck. It is exit 18 on 95 south. It is about a 15 minute drive south from Stamford. That reverse commute into Stamford can be tough so I would say really about 30 minutes during rush hour etc. I did this and know the area very well.

As someone who reverse commutes up 95 to Stamford I can tell you it's not that bad unless your job starts at 9am, it seems right before 9 it is bad, but if it starts at 8 (or earlier) it's not too bad, especially considering I've seen the westbound traffic on both the Merritt and 95 to Stamford/Greenwich be horrendous even a little past 7am

I concur with Sail on Mamaroneck though, but only to rent (or own a coop apt where property taxes are factored into your monthly maintenance charge and are more reasonable).....property taxes anywhere in Westchester are insane!

[BPt111]

Originally Posted by 7 Wishes

As someone who reverse commutes up 95 to Stamford I can tell you it's not that bad unless your job starts at 9am, it seems right before 9 it is bad, but if it starts at 8 (or earlier) it's not too bad, especially considering I've seen the westbound traffic on both the Merritt and 95 to Stamford/Greenwich be horrendous even a little past 7am

I concur with Sail on Mamaroneck though, but only to rent (or own a coop apt where property taxes are factored into your monthly maintenance charge and are more reasonable).....property taxes anywhere in Westchester are insane!

If you pay 7k for property tax in CT in Westchester it 14-15k


$583 monthly property tax for CT
$1,116 for Westchester County

Car Insurance is higher in New York State

[NewJeffCT]

agree with the above - I think maybe renting for a year would be the best option.

Shelton is a good option, and as kidyankee mentioned above, the towns around Danbury are also good options as well.

And, while it will definitely be more expensive, you will end up having more job opportunities in that section of the state in the long run, and you'll also be close to New York and have more job opportunities there as well.

[CTartist]

Originally Posted by mrhockey196

I currently live in Eastern CT, near RI. I have a job opportunity in Stamford, which is a great opportunity for my career and will pay approximately $15,000-$20,000 more per year. I would take this opportunity, except when I look at the towns around Stamford they’re all very expensive, and really unaffordable for me.

I’m wondering if anyone here knows of an affordable town with a good school system (I have two small children). It can be in NY or CT. I’m not afraid of a small drive (I currently drive 45 mins to work every day).

Unfortunately being from Eastern CT, I don’t really know any of the towns in the area. My gut is to say no to the job because the pay raise isn’t worth it, but thought I’d check with people who might actually know. Thanks so much.

My husband and I where born and raised in Stamford. We moved to Trumbull to buy a house and commuted for over 10 years until we found jobs in the Trumbull area. It's a very tough commute and most days will take a solid hour at least. We have not done that commute in over 10 years and the traffic is even worse now. If you were working in Stamford the furthest I would move would be Fairfield but that commute is still no picnic. Fairfield is nice town on the water with very good schools.

I took a guess that you lived in Stonington and put Fairfield in this calculator. It says a salary of $80,000 in Stonington, Connecticut should increase to $90,319 in Fairfield, Connecticut.
Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

If you have the kind of career that could start to make you a lot more than your initial salary increase perhaps it might be worth it.

BTW, this caught my eye because I hope to retire to the shoreline east of New Haven somewhere.

[BPt111]

Originally Posted by CTartist

My husband and I where born and raised in Stamford. We moved to Trumbull to buy a house and commuted for over 10 years until we found jobs in the Trumbull area. It's a very tough commute and most days will take a solid hour at least. We have not done that commute in over 10 years and the traffic is even worse now. If you were working in Stamford the furthest I would move would be Fairfield but that commute is still no picnic. Fairfield is nice town on the water with very good schools.

I took a guess that you lived in Stonington and put Fairfield in this calculator. It says a salary of $80,000 in Stonington, Connecticut should increase to $90,319 in Fairfield, Connecticut.
Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

If you have the kind of career that could start to make you a lot more than your initial salary increase perhaps it might be worth it.

BTW, this caught my eye because I hope to retire to the shoreline east of New Haven somewhere.

No North Carolina for retirement ?

[7 Wishes]

Originally Posted by BPt111

If you pay 7k for property tax in CT in Westchester it 14-15k


$583 monthly property tax for CT
$1,116 for Westchester County

Car Insurance is higher in New York State

Forgot about car insurance, thanks for noting.....

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by 7 Wishes

Forgot about car insurance, thanks for noting.....

That’s largely dependent on where you live in each state. Someone who lives in Black Rock will undoubtedly pay higher insurance rates than someone in northern Westchester.

[hvexpatinct]

Re: car insurance, in this case it's not all driven by where you live within each of the states -- NY is a no fault state and CT is not, no fault premiums are higher by design.

Years ago I transferred my registration from a rural low crime town in downstate NY to a town bordering lovely high crime Waterbury. My insurance rates were cut in half when I did this. I moved further away from Wtby, and they are even lower now - less than half of what my family pays in NY. My insurance and car tax payment, combined, is more than $200/yr less than I would pay in NY for insurance alone.