[leavinglosangeles]

Hello!

This forum was extremely helpful to me in preparing for my first visit to Connecticut to explore areas and once again I am enlisting some guidance...

I am looking for a town that exemplifies the quintessential small New England country town with a lot of history; a place where I can buy an antique home with load of character and on a decent size lot, at least a half acre to an acre (certainly easier to do than in Los Angeles!). But, as a single working professional in her early 40's, I also want to be able to be in reasonable driving distance to a larger town or city with nice restaurants, boutiques and culture.

I fell in love with Farmington and the Farmington Valley area (Avon, Simsbury) and even more so because West Hartford was so close by which was a great little town! However, at this point, practicality tells me that I may need to be closer to NY for work purposes, but the towns I looked at in Southern Connecticut, Newtown, Old Saybrook, Southbury, Woodbury and Bridgewater, while utterly charming and country beautiful did not feel like they would be close enough to other towns which might offer the same as West Hartford. And, were predominantly for families.

I am now rethinking things a bit and just wondered if I have missed any areas worth exploring? My second trip is coming up in June so I would be most appreciative of any and all suggestions!

Thank you!

[wavehunter007]

Originally Posted by leavinglosangeles

Hello!

This forum was extremely helpful to me in preparing for my first visit to Connecticut to explore areas and once again I am enlisting some guidance...

I am looking for a town that exemplifies the quintessential small New England country town with a lot of history; a place where I can buy an antique home with load of character and on a decent size lot, at least a half acre to an acre (certainly easier to do than in Los Angeles!). But, as a single working professional in her early 40's, I also want to be able to be in reasonable driving distance to a larger town or city with nice restaurants, boutiques and culture.

I fell in love with Farmington and the Farmington Valley area (Avon, Simsbury) and even more so because West Hartford was so close by which was a great little town! However, at this point, practicality tells me that I may need to be closer to NY for work purposes, but the towns I looked at in Southern Connecticut, Newtown, Old Saybrook, Southbury, Woodbury and Bridgewater, while utterly charming and country beautiful did not feel like they would be close enough to other towns which might offer the same as West Hartford. And, were predominantly for families.

I am now rethinking things a bit and just wondered if I have missed any areas worth exploring? My second trip is coming up in June so I would be most appreciative of any and all suggestions!

Thank you!

I work for a good-sized company (570 employees), and we have had several CA transplants come and go. So here are just a few things to keep in mind……I hope it helps.

First, - there are really two Connecticut’s – southern Connecticut (Stamford, Bridgeport, New Haven/Shoreline areas), which are really part of the Tri-State area (NY/NJ/CT)…..and northern Connecticut (Hartford County, and Northeast and Northwest CT), which is really more New England in character and charm. Both are nice, but that “New England” country charm you speak of really fades fast the further south and west you go in Connecticut.

Areas like New Haven and Stamford are much more like the Middle Atlantic cities (say Trenton, Wilmington, ) than Portland, Me or Concord, New Hampshire. I say this with all due respect to Californians - there is this silly image out there that much of Connecticut is like what is portrayed on the “Gilmore Girls’ (lol). Perhaps Northeast and Northwest Connecticut close to the Massachusetts line have some of that charm – however most Connecticut residents spend there mornings on commuter trains or snarled traffic overpasses. So look around - many of the country areas a far from job centers and the larger cities.

If you will need to be in or around NYC often….. then you may want to live in southern Connecticut. The Hartford area and northern Connecticut are a bit too far to be part of the NYC circle. New Haven and Fairfield Counties are the best places for people used to urban living and who want easy proximity to NYC. Of course the problem is an acre lot in these areas is quite expensive. Also, these areas are not so country, New Haven and Fairfield Counties have about 2 million people (the City of LA for example has 3.5 million people in about the same land area), so these areas are mostly suburban and urban.

My best guidance for you as a single active professional would be Branford, Milford, or Fairfield if you seek a smaller town (about 30,000 to 60,000) or New Haven or Stamford if you seek a larger area. There are many great neighborhoods in New Haven (Orange Street, Westville, East Shore, that offer urban living, with museums, cafes, bookstores, Yale gallery, …ect in walking distance. Also a big part of getting into or out of NYC is the commuter trains, which service all of southern Connecticut and New Haven. A trip into Manhattan from say Branford or New Haven is only about 90-minutes on the metro North line or Shoreline East (Branford – Old Lyme). You DO NOT want to drive into NYC. Remember, NYC is THREE TIMES the size of LA in population and half as large in land area…….in other words it’s crowed in NYC (lol).

Coming from California you will also experience a change in climate as well. Several CA transplants have commented to me the biggest adjustment was the humidity. CA and much of the Southwest is a dry climate, Connecticut and the East Coast is a humid climate with high rainfall. I suppose between late April and October – Connecticut will seem much more “green “ than dry California. The down side - during the deep summer season, there will be many days from 85 to 95 F with dew points of 70 F (which is a THI of around 113 F), making it feel very sultry and tropical. Most people seem to say that dry desert like heat is easier to take (up to a point I guess), than tropical humid sultury heat. So if your from LA or SD you might find the summers take a bit getting used to.

Finally, remember that snowfall decreases from north to south in Connecticut. So while winters are moderate in southern Connecticut /NYC - winter gets longer quickly with more snow the further north you go. Places up near the Massachuttess line may get 50 inches or more of snow a season, while the New Haven or Stamford areas may only get 15 or 20 inches. I guess this all depends on if you love or hate snow and winter.

Good luck.

[skytrekker]

What areas of Connecticut represent 'real New England?'

All of Connecticut still has the original patterns of settlement found in all 6 New England states. What does this mean? City and town design is typically New England over the mid Atlantic area to the west and south. Population density is typically New England, and architecturally- obtaining a true salt box or Colonial will still be far easier to buy and truer to form then in other areas outside of CT and New England. Still nonetheless areas from New Haven west, along the coast into Stamford and most of Fairfield county look less like true New England then areas to the North and east.

The Litchfield hills, Greater Hartford, south to Middletown, and the areas east of New Haven along the coast to the Rhode Island border, and all of the rest of eastern Connecticut are more traditional New England and have maintained the character and 'feel' the region is famous for.

Nonetheless, Westport, Redding, Ridgefield, Bethel , New Milford, & Fairfield still radiate much of what you like about New England, and still be closer to New York then other parts of the state.

The part of Connecticut that has changed the least in the last 50 years is eastern CT- towns like Stafford Springs, Tolland, Ashford, Woodstock, Pomfret and Putnam represent the old Connecticut, and are more true to what New England was in the past.

Wander said it all about the climate here. Summers can bring periods of unpleasant heat (90+) coupled with sultry tropical humidity that can last from 3-5 days, making outside activity tough and central air a must before a cold from from the northwest or east a 'back door front' from the gulf of Maine cools things off.

Summers begin here around late June to early July- though coastal regions, especially in southeastern CT will be sometimes 10 degrees cooler then inland locations with a refreshing sea breeze.

July is a warm to hot month, and the summer heat usually peaks in early August. The 'Dog Days' end in Mid August' with the heat becoming less intense. From late August till Nearly Thanksgiving the weather can be very pleasant and sublime.

As was said, coastal and some eastern locations will see less snow then areas to the north and west.

[Cruikshl]

Come to Woodbury you will love it.

[JayCT]

To be within a reasonable distance of New York yet have a more New England character without the expense of Fairfield County, I would consider the shoreline towns east of New Haven. towns like Branford, Guilford, Madison, Clinton, Westbrook and Old Saybrook are charming and have commuter train service (Shoreline East) to New Haven where you can catch trains into New York easily. Branford, Guilford and Madison all have charming downtowns similar to West Hartford and there are many antique homes in the area.

If this area is too far out and you have the money, I would consider one of the Fairfield County towns. They have a LOT of charm and are convenient to New York with direct train service on Metro-North. I would consider Fairfield or Westport. These towns are not small but do retain their small town ambience. Jay

[leavinglosangeles]

Hello Everyone,

Thank you so much - all very good information to take into consideration as I expand my list.

A few replies and pieces of information for those who continue to assist me...

-The more snow, the better! And, yes, you indigenous CT folks will tell me to be wary of what I wish for, but after years of living in California along the coastline and dealing with unusually hot summers recently, in excess of 100 degrees for long periods of time and virtually no seasons, I am ready for experiecing some true seasons.
-I had not really considered the coastline towns primarily because I truly want a "country New England feel" and because I have grown up along the coastline, although a different one I know! However, I will reconsider and do some investigating.
-I will continue to pursue areas of Fairfield county, hopefully finding a town that offers the best of both worlds...quaint New England town within driving distance to a larger town with social opportunities. While I think I would enjoy towns like Newtown and Woodbury, as I mentioned, they are very small and do not seem to be in reasonable driving distance of a slightly larger area with a nice downtown.

Again, my sincere thanks and this forum continues to be very helpful to me!

[JayCT]

If Fairfield County prices don't scare you (and they rarely do for Californians), then consider Fairfield. It has a beautiful area called Greenfield Hill which has a charming green with beautiful old homes around it. Zoning in Greenfield Hill requires a minimum of two acres which helps maintain the areas charm. Also in Fairfield is the stunning Southport Village. Very charming harbor area with beautiful old homes along charming streets.

If you want a more rural area, you might consider some of the nearby inland towns like Weston or Easton. Very beautiful somewhat rural area with charming older homes on quiet country lanes. There is no downtown area in these towns but they are convenient to Fairfield and Westport if you want that. Jay

[wavehunter007]

I think it is a good idea to give newcomers a fair image. Since I have some time to kill (at work), let me also say a few other things/comments….

First, I think we in Connecticut lose sight of what a truly urban place CA has become. So I say to “leavinglosangeles”…….pick a larger town city. One of the biggest complaints I hear from students (wife is admin at Yale with may CA students), and adults….is the lack of things to do in CT compared to CA. In fact, a few people we know who moved to areas of central CT, think they area is downright dull. Again, perhaps other CT residents, and myself, it’s all perspective. I think it’s fair for a person from a very large metro area to be aware that CT is no LA or Orange County……. in terms of entertainment, commerce, of social activities. An area with a “country feel” might have a different meaning if one is coming from CA (lol).


The Shoreline Towns…..

I live, work, and spend a lot of time in the “shoreline towns” east of New Haven as they have come to be called. There are many positive things about them: small beaches, and pictures marinas, clam shacks, a air of being “on vacation” (from May to October that is), interesting mix of old and retired people, boaters, sail riggers, fisherman, and young families. The proximity to the crashing surf in Rhode Island is a big plus. The towns of Guilford, Madison, and Old Lyme are perhaps the nicest and most upscale……

However, there is a down side to the eastern shoreline areas that travelers or non-residents don’t see.

1. EMPLOYMENT - There ARE NO JOBS here. Once you get much past semi-urban Branford, decent, well –paying jobs, for professionals and even skilled factory or trade labor is just about nonexistent. From Guilford to Rhode Island, there are few good jobs to support a family on. When I first moved to the area I found this strange – the home prices are quite high, how do people afford a $600,000 house on a 9 hr job? Once I lived here awhile I realized many folks in these communities are retired transplants from somewhere else (NYC, Chicago…etc) or old long time residents who moved to the area when things were very cheap. If you buy a $600,000 house in Madison or Old Lyme, it’s likely you will be commuting to the New Haven, Hartford metro, or maybe New London to pay for that home. Although this is a problem all over CT and even much of the US today….the shoreline towns are a bad choice for a career minded person. If you move past Branford – be ready for long commutes.

2. DECAY/RUN DOWN AREAS – There has been a growing concern that many of the more ramshackle beach towns like Clinton, Westbrook, Groton, and even parts of Saybrook and Mystic are becoming run down. Westbrook for example has many vacant storefronts, abandoned buildings, and “For Sale” sighns in the center of town. Many of the homes and commerical buildings take a much greater beating from the elemnets than palces upstate (wind storm, heavy rain, salt damge, rot)……and they look it. The nice-looking sturdy and well cared for buildings in a townj like West Hartford or Avon is NOT the norm along the eastern Connecticut coast. Many of the homes in these areas were orginally built as cottages in the 1920’s and 1930’s. They have no public sewer and 100 amp service panels. Termite damage is three times greater in coastal CT than upstate because of the short frost season. I have a home built in 1977 (considered new along the shoreline) had are costant battling termites, carpenter ants, and carpenter bees. They love the soft damp wood and the constant humidity. Mold here is a big problem.

3. HURRICAN INSURANCE/HURRICANES – Anyone who lives within 2 miles of the coast will pay an increasingly heavy price to do so – at least insurance wise. My rates have went from $460 when I moved here in 1997 to $1474 (which is considered cheap) on a rather modest 1600 sq. foot home. Worse – I now have (along with thousands of others)……… what is known as a “hurricane deductible”. Many homeowners now have $5,000 to $10,000 deductibles on exterior damage that is the result of a hurricane. This is the insurance industry’s way of paying out less in the event of a big hurricane loss. This is quite worriesome for many middle-class familes already living pay check to paycheck in southern and coastal Connecticut, who may have to come up with thousands of dollars to fix there homes in the event of a hurricane. Rather severe hurricanes have hit Connecticut and Long island in 1960, 1954, and 1938…..so it’s only a matter of time.


4. SUMMER CROWDS – This may be the worst. I had no idea that tens of thousands of NY, NJ, and CT residents drive on 95 each weekend in the June – September months to get to the beaches/tourist areas to the east (the Cape, Rhode Island, the Islands, the Casinos). A drive from New Haven to Saybrook or Westbrook might take 1 hour and a half to go 30 miles on a summer weekend. It gets old after a while.


“REAL NEW ENGLAND” (or lack there of)

One of the biggest complaints that we hear from folks who move to southern Connecticut….is that they are disappointed that CT is not that “New Englandy”. Now again I live in southern CT, and spend most of my time between NYC and the shoreline towns east of New Haven, so the folks I meet up with never see Litchfield, Hartford, or the northeast hill towns. They think all of Connecticut looks like West Haven. Although I agree with Skytrekker that all of Connecticut still has the original patterns of settlement found in all 6 New England states, demographically and economically…..Connecticut is totally unlike the other New England states (especially when you exclude metro Boston and metro Providence).

According to the US Census bureau, Connecticut is significantly more racially and ethically diverse (which is of course a good thing) than most of New England. Very few people in Connecticut earn their living in farming or agricultural jobs,…..while half of all jobs in New Hampshire, Vermont, or Maine are connected to forestry, logging, or farming. Even patters of vacationing and tourism are different: most of the tourist who visit Connecticut (by no means all) come in the summer season to places like Mystic Seaport, the beaches, boaters come into the marinas, lakes……while in most of the tourists in the New England states to our north, come in the winter, to ski, snowmobile, or lodge in the highcountry.

CLIMATE – As a person with an academic background in climate and mapping – I would totally disagree that there are four seasons on the East Coast - south of Massachusetts.

To me, and I have lived a long time - we have just two seasons – warm/hot (late April to mid October)…..and cold November through March. The spring/fall light jacket (which people will wear here on a sultry 80 F day in May or mid September)………. or the fall “big sweater” (which people here will shiver in on a blustery 40 F day in November) is much more a fashion statement and makes little other sense.

I would also disagree that summers start in late June – the mean temp in June is 68 F at Bridgeport and 69 at Hartford….which means the aveagre daily high is in the upper 70’s or near 80 F. In fact even late May can have temps in the upper 80'’ and high humidity. I would think most people coming from anywhere would consider temps much over 75 F – summer type weather. In southern Connecticut, June, July, August, and half of September will have on most days highs of 75 to 95 F. Of course when you add 70% RH, to 90 F ……it feels like your in the Amazon.

My old collage professor from up in Austria said it best – “it’s darn hot here in the summer, and darn cold here in the winter. Seasons…what seasons”?

Good Luck.

[skytrekker]

Wave

I agree with much of what you have said- however after living here in Connecticut since I was 6 years old- and having experienced every weather known to man, beast or woman, I still feel real summer weather comes to central inland Connecticut around the last week of June. The average high-not the 'mean temperature' in Hartford in mid June is over 80 degrees- which I would consider warm enough for summer climatic conditions.

The climate here is different then 30 years ago however. Earlier and milder springs, warmer summers and autumns and milder winters. Climate change is here in CT-from trees leafing out 7-10 days earlier then 1970, increasing coastal erosion, and 'zone creep' the USDA zones have shifted one half to one full zone north. Coastal CT is now a zone 7-

I also disagree with the statement that CT has only 'hot and cold seasons'. Summer and winter are more predominant- in their extremes; however this spring has been moderate, with decent periods of pleasant benign temperatures - and in most years the weather from late August to almost Thanksgiving can be considered warm to mild, and almost sublime.

Connecticut's favorable location does allow a more gradual seasonal change then the landlocked heartland, where the cold is more intense, as is summer heat, with far shorter springs and autumns.

[R.B.]

We moved from So Cal to Hartford, CT area and lived there for 3 yrs. Coming from CA, you may think the houses are cheaper in CT. But other than water, everything is more expensive in CT. You may want to find out the actual living cost before you move. Our property tax for 40 years old, 4BR/3BA Cape on 1/3 Acre was $7500/year. To heat this house during the winter season (Oct. to Apr.), we spent $300 - $400 monthly.