[Tsitsipas]

We are looking for a place to call home. Please tell me if there are any locations in CT that fit the following description:

Pretty natural environment combined with a nice man-made environment. For example - trees, hills, water but also cute downtown area, well-kept properties, and a good variety of restaurants.

Not too "tight knit" - don't want to feel pressured to become enmeshed in the community, always running into people I know and getting stuck in conversations when just trying to run errands or take a walk.

Wholesome, classy, and not too snobby.

Convenient access to good groceries and other everyday essentials.

Thank you!

[CTartist]

Originally Posted by Tsitsipas

We are looking for a place to call home. Please tell me if there are any locations in CT that fit the following description:

Pretty natural environment combined with a nice man-made environment. For example - trees, hills, water but also cute downtown area, well-kept properties, and a good variety of restaurants.

Not too "tight knit" - don't want to feel pressured to become enmeshed in the community, always running into people I know and getting stuck in conversations when just trying to run errands or take a walk.

Wholesome, classy, and not too snobby.

Convenient access to good groceries and other everyday essentials.

Thank you!

I have a couple of suggestions but the wealthier towns in Fairfield County might be too snobby for you. Snobby, Wholesome and a few other things you mentioned are subjective. But here it goes. I really only know New Haven and Fairfield Counties. I am going to give you the HH income. It might give you a clue about the snob factor.

Guilford
On the water, beautiful town green, the people I have met there seem very nice. It is a good combination of classy but not too snobby. I think it ticks a lot of your boxes except there might not be enough restaurants & shopping for you. For instance, it has no Whole Foods. It has beaches.
HH Income: $108,000

Milford
Milford would be perfect except it has Route 1/The Post Road running through it. That might be too commercial for you but the people in Milford I have found are very down to earth/nice. It has great beaches. Here is the good side of Route 1, it has EVERYTHING you need.
HH Income: $95,000

New Canaan
No water but it ticks your boxes for natual beauty, well kept homes and a nice little downtown. Some people might feel it is too snobby.
HH Income: $200,000

Newtown
It borders lakes and has great natural beauty. It has a cute downtown area in Sandy Hook. The people are nice. I live in lower Fairfield County (Trumbull) and I find the people in northern Fairfield County are more friendly. It has shopping but not as much as lower Fairfield County near I-95 and Metro north corridor. Classy but not too snobby is a good description. Beautiful historic homes that are well kept. Take a ride up Route 25 through Newtown and you will see all the beautiful historic homes.
HH Income: $125,000
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fa...icut/PST045221

I will probably think of more but this might be a good start.

[DigitalMilford]

Originally Posted by Tsitsipas

We are looking for a place to call home. Please tell me if there are any locations in CT that fit the following description:

Pretty natural environment combined with a nice man-made environment. For example - trees, hills, water but also cute downtown area, well-kept properties, and a good variety of restaurants.

Not too "tight knit" - don't want to feel pressured to become enmeshed in the community, always running into people I know and getting stuck in conversations when just trying to run errands or take a walk.

Wholesome, classy, and not too snobby.

Convenient access to good groceries and other everyday essentials.

Thank you!

I think you should check out Milford and if you're looking further upstate West Hartford.

Milford is unpretentious, with a friendly downtown area with restaurants and bars. It doesn't have the "man-made" feel of newer shopping areas,but it has most of what you're looking for.

You might also look into West Harford. The Blue Back Square area has what you're looking for and the more manufactured feel you refer to.

Good luck!

[CTartist]

Originally Posted by CTartist

Guilford
On the water, beautiful town green, the people I have met there seem very nice. It is a good combination of classy but not too snobby. I think it ticks a lot of your boxes except there might not be enough restaurants & shopping for you. For instance, it has no Whole Foods. It has beaches.
HH Income: $108,000

I forgot to tell you (shame on me) what I like the most about Guilford and why I want to retire in or near it. It has the Guilford Art Center so there are a lot of artists in the area.
https://guilfordartcenter.org

[CTartist]

Originally Posted by CTartist

Newtown
It borders lakes and has great natural beauty. It has a cute downtown area in Sandy Hook. The people are nice. I live in lower Fairfield County (Trumbull) and I find the people in northern Fairfield County are more friendly. It has shopping but not as much as lower Fairfield County near I-95 and Metro north corridor. Classy but not too snobby is a good description. Beautiful historic homes that are well kept. Take a ride up Route 25 through Newtown and you will see all the beautiful historic homes.
HH Income: $125,000
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fa...icut/PST045221

There is an area in Newtown you might really like. Sandy Hook is in Newtown. There is an area in northern Newtown in Sandy Hook where they have this nice little community with boat docks, a little beach etc. on the lake. I have a friend that lived in many places in Fairfield County and she loves it up there. And you are close to the little cute downtown of Sandy Hook.

Here are some houses in the area.
https://www.coldwellbankerhomes.com/...d/pid_49259236
"This property has many unique features. Excellent location to I84, Rt 25, shopping centers, schools, parks, and fine dining. HOA fee is OPTIONAL - $70/annually for access to boat launch, beach, picnic area and parties."

This house has a picture of the little beach/lake area.
https://www.coldwellbankerhomes.com/...l/pid_49083768

All of this is about a 10/15 minute ride to the Danbury Mall area where it has everything you need (shopping) also.

[Tsitsipas]

Thank you for these ideas!

[Tsitsipas]

Originally Posted by DigitalMilford

I think you should check out Milford and if you're looking further upstate West Hartford.

Milford is unpretentious, with a friendly downtown area with restaurants and bars. It doesn't have the "man-made" feel of newer shopping areas,but it has most of what you're looking for.

You might also look into West Harford. The Blue Back Square area has what you're looking for and the more manufactured feel you refer to.

Good luck!

Just to clarify what I meant by "man-made environment" - I just mean anything people built, I would like it to be attractive / charming. I don't mean new or manufactured looking.

[beer belly]

Originally Posted by CTartist

I have a couple of suggestions but the wealthier towns in Fairfield County might be too snobby for you. Snobby, Wholesome and a few other things you mentioned are subjective. But here it goes. I really only know New Haven and Fairfield Counties. I am going to give you the HH income. It might give you a clue about the snob factor.

Guilford
On the water, beautiful town green, the people I have met there seem very nice. It is a good combination of classy but not too snobby. I think it ticks a lot of your boxes except there might not be enough restaurants & shopping for you. For instance, it has no Whole Foods. It has beaches.
HH Income: $108,000

Milford
Milford would be perfect except it has Route 1/The Post Road running through it. That might be too commercial for you but the people in Milford I have found are very down to earth/nice. It has great beaches. Here is the good side of Route 1, it has EVERYTHING you need.
HH Income: $95,000

New Canaan
No water but it ticks your boxes for natual beauty, well kept homes and a nice little downtown. Some people might feel it is too snobby.
HH Income: $200,000

Newtown
It borders lakes and has great natural beauty. It has a cute downtown area in Sandy Hook. The people are nice. I live in lower Fairfield County (Trumbull) and I find the people in northern Fairfield County are more friendly. It has shopping but not as much as lower Fairfield County near I-95 and Metro north corridor. Classy but not too snobby is a good description. Beautiful historic homes that are well kept. Take a ride up Route 25 through Newtown and you will see all the beautiful historic homes.
HH Income: $125,000
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fa...icut/PST045221

I will probably think of more but this might be a good start.

I second Newtown. I live in Bethel, and was to add it to this list, only thing is that it is getting over developed.

[dazzleman]

Originally Posted by CTartist

I have a couple of suggestions but the wealthier towns in Fairfield County might be too snobby for you. Snobby, Wholesome and a few other things you mentioned are subjective. But here it goes. I really only know New Haven and Fairfield Counties. I am going to give you the HH income. It might give you a clue about the snob factor.

Guilford
On the water, beautiful town green, the people I have met there seem very nice. It is a good combination of classy but not too snobby. I think it ticks a lot of your boxes except there might not be enough restaurants & shopping for you. For instance, it has no Whole Foods. It has beaches.
HH Income: $108,000

Milford
Milford would be perfect except it has Route 1/The Post Road running through it. That might be too commercial for you but the people in Milford I have found are very down to earth/nice. It has great beaches. Here is the good side of Route 1, it has EVERYTHING you need.
HH Income: $95,000

New Canaan
No water but it ticks your boxes for natual beauty, well kept homes and a nice little downtown. Some people might feel it is too snobby.
HH Income: $200,000

Newtown
It borders lakes and has great natural beauty. It has a cute downtown area in Sandy Hook. The people are nice. I live in lower Fairfield County (Trumbull) and I find the people in northern Fairfield County are more friendly. It has shopping but not as much as lower Fairfield County near I-95 and Metro north corridor. Classy but not too snobby is a good description. Beautiful historic homes that are well kept. Take a ride up Route 25 through Newtown and you will see all the beautiful historic homes.
HH Income: $125,000
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fa...icut/PST045221

I will probably think of more but this might be a good start.

These are good suggestions, though it should be noted that New Canaan is insanely expensive. I never realized what a lovely town Milford was until I got off the Post Road and took a tour of the other areas.

In the past, I would have included Fairfield, where I live, but I think it is becoming overdeveloped.

I would also mention Litchfield and the area around it. There are some really nice towns in that area. And the shoreline east of New Haven (which includes Guilford) is very charming. Madison is also a really nice town.

This is a nice question to answer because I think there are lots of places in Connecticut that will meet the OP's criteria. People who ask these types of questions are often looking for a unicorn (such as inexpensive, diverse areas with excellent schools) that doesn't exist, but this is a realistic request that exists in different forms around the state.

[CTartist]

Originally Posted by dazzleman

This is a nice question to answer because I think there are lots of places in Connecticut that will meet the OP's criteria. People who ask these types of questions are often looking for a unicorn (such as inexpensive, diverse areas with excellent schools) that doesn't exist, but this is a realistic request that exists in different forms around the state.

I am only talking about 2 counties so there are 6 others where people will give the OP other suggestions.

Dazzleman, how about Old Saybrook. I have never been there, but my friends said I need to check it out for retirement. When they talk about Old Saybrook it sounds like what the OP is looking for. The little downtown is near the water.


Mystic/Stonington. I have been there and it ticks many boxes too. My husband's cousin lived there. For me it is too far removed from New Haven a major city with an excellent hospital.