[tallone]

Just started new job in Danbury CT area in Nov-06.
Wife and daughter are excited about moving out in June.
Need advice on communities to live in!

Currently thinking about West Hartford/Farmington area.
Good schools, good libraries, sidewalks, dining options, reasonable housing prices, and within striking distance of NYC/Boston.
Major downside… I-84 commute for me – ugh!
Don’t’ think driving to Danbury will be significant problem as I get up ~5am, but coming back I’ve been told will not be fun.

Ridgefield and Newtown are too suburban for my wife.
We’ve been warned away from Danbury, although it’s not clear whether this is good advice.

Our hope is that we move to a real community as opposed to a set of strip malls surrounded by subdivisions.

My wife is a classical pianist, and a short story writer.
My daughter will be a sophomore in the ’07 school year, bright and motivated who needs an academically challenging (rather than challenged) environment, is a francophile, and into graphic arts.

I’m lucky to have a good science job and my passions outside of work are pickup basketball, singing, and outdoor stuff (running, biking, golf).

Any advice on communities, or the I-84 commute would be greatly appreciated.

[jdhall1]

Danbury is not as bad as people say it is. It is a large city with one of the largest high schools in the state, but they have a lot of programs that other schools might. I can not say what schools are the 'best' per ct licensing laws (I'm a realtor in the area). Danbury is not cheap, but is the most affordable town in northern Fairfield County. The library downtown is large and offers a full range of materials. There are some chain stores, but also a lot of local owned businesses. The city is mostly neighbhoods, with just a couple of subdisions (Toll Brothers). I am a runner too, and there are lots places to run and there are 2 golf courses in town.
The drive back to West Hartford/Farmington from Danbury would be challenging since if you have to share to roads with people coming from the eastern part of the county that commute to White Plains.

Feel free to ask me any questions about the area,
Jonathan Hall

[Hatter58]

Check this out:
www.danbury.org

Lots of information.

You're thinking of living in West Hartford and commuting to Danbury? I'm telling you right now that's a terrible idea. Terrible. Friday afternoon trying to take I-84 to West Hartford will easily take 1 1/2 hours. EASILY. Traffic gets jammed up hard on I-84 from Danbury to Waterbury and it gets insane during the summer (tourists from NY & NJ clogging the highways).
Traffic in the morning going towards Danbury gets backed up regularly.

[gomet]

Have you looked at Brookfield. It is suburban, but their is alot of business as well. I find it to be a nice mix of business and residential.

[Hatter58]

If your daughter is interested in graphic arts you may find it of interest that the artist Michael Whelan is a Danbury resident and has a son who attends DHS. He has a gallery in town.

http://www.michaelwhelan.com/

[westguy22]

Originally Posted by tallone

Just started new job in Danbury CT area in Nov-06.
Wife and daughter are excited about moving out in June.
Need advice on communities to live in!

Currently thinking about West Hartford/Farmington area.
Good schools, good libraries, sidewalks, dining options, reasonable housing prices, and within striking distance of NYC/Boston.
Major downside… I-84 commute for me – ugh!
Don’t’ think driving to Danbury will be significant problem as I get up ~5am, but coming back I’ve been told will not be fun.

Ridgefield and Newtown are too suburban for my wife.
We’ve been warned away from Danbury, although it’s not clear whether this is good advice.

Our hope is that we move to a real community as opposed to a set of strip malls surrounded by subdivisions.

My wife is a classical pianist, and a short story writer.
My daughter will be a sophomore in the ’07 school year, bright and motivated who needs an academically challenging (rather than challenged) environment, is a francophile, and into graphic arts.

I’m lucky to have a good science job and my passions outside of work are pickup basketball, singing, and outdoor stuff (running, biking, golf).

Any advice on communities, or the I-84 commute would be greatly appreciated.

My best friend lives in Danbury, and my advice? STAY AWAY! There are close to 20,000 illegal immigrants living in Danbury and they put a huge burden on town services. You can see them all standing downtown as they wait for odd jobs. It's really unattractive.

Did you look at more rural towns such as Oxford or Woodbury? They are both within 20 minutes of Danbury and very nice communities. Woodbury is largely an agricultural community and Oxford is a town of about 12,000 that, through strict zoning regulations, has kept the rural character of the town. Very country.

Home prices? About the same in both towns. Cheaper than Ridgefield and Redding, but more pricey than the average town. Starting at about 400k and for a larger home (3000sf+) you'd be looking at over 700k.

Oxford is building a brand new high school, to be ready in Sept. 07. It's going to have a challenging curriculum, according to local media.

I'd highly recommend both Oxford and Woodbury. Downtown Southbury is right near 84 and has everything from upscale clothing stores to good restaurants. VERY LITTLE chain restaurants in this area. That's a plus I liked.

[livin in the 'bury]

As far as a good school system with a relatively easy commute, i would say middlebury, southbury, or newtown. All three of these towns have outstanding school systems. I can't really understand why you would want to commute from west hartford to danbury...even without traffic it has to be close to an hour drive.

Ridgefield would be good to but as far as home prices go, it's more expensive.

hope this helps..

[JViello]

The drive from Suburban Hartford to Danbury will be maddening. Just getting past Waterbury will make you open a vein with another 30 minutes to go before getting to Dbury.

If you are working in Danbury, check out Bethel. Nice burb of danbury with it's own character. (Shops, restaurants etc on main street.)

http://www.bethelct.org

If you want more city feel Trumbull isn't too far away without paying the Gold Coast (Fairfield County) housing prices.

Or just find work in the Hartford area and then move to West Hartford/Farmington.

[GoldenCrow]

Originally Posted by gomet

Have you looked at Brookfield. It is suburban, but their is alot of business as well. I find it to be a nice mix of business and residential.

Brookfield would be worth a look, and Bethel is also an interesting town -- nice historic downtown with small town feel.

If you'd consider a more rural feel, head up Route 7 and check out New Milford. Most of the towns that surround Candlewood Lake are all pretty nice, including New Fairfield & Sherman.

Good luck!

[IslandGirl]

I have lived in Danbury since 1988. I love it but it is changing. The comment about the immigrants is absolutely true. The day Brazil won over Japan soccer, the city streets were crazy and most of us "original" folk didn't know what was going on!!! I still love the conveniences though.

Hmm... Brookfield is very quiet. Way quieter than Ridgefield. Newtown is growing but also quiet. I would recommend Wilton to you for community, because of your daughter needing a challenge and your wife's interests, however, the home prices are extravagant.

I think for the best commute and not so rural and not city, you are best off in either Brookfield or Ridgefield, although your search for community life in my opinion is limited - I am moving to NC soon to be in a community which I have not found here - the people are way too busy making a living to socialize much.

DO NOT move East of Southbury or your commute will be terrible!!!
IslandGirl