[Yodelady]

I am thinking of moving to Connecticut this year. Since I'm close to retiring, it doesn't make sense to move to a town with a h igh mil rate. I think I would be better off paying more for the house because at least it would be paid off at some point.

Therefore, I'm looking at Durham because most of my family lives in the New Haven / Waterbury area.

Does anybody have any inside info on the town? Is it mostly farms? Is there a good vet there?

Thanks

[TraceyKersteen]

Nice little town..very High Taxes...there is really no industry there so taxes are high..rural little bedroom town close to Middletown, Hartford and New Haven.

[Rich Lee]

You might also want to consider Middlefield - Durham's "partner" at least in regards to schools (Region 13). Middlefield has more reasonable taxes and a comparable feel. Between Lyman Orchards and the Durham Fair, there's a nice synergy.

As for Veterinarians, there's an Animal Hospital on Route 66 just over the line from Meriden. If that didn't work out, Wallingford is only 10 minutes away. Cheshire has an animal hospital, but it's pricey and kennel-cough vaccination is required for canines. I happen to go to Wolcott for my five (5) dogs, but that wouldn't be practical from Durham.

[silvermiller]

I lived in Durham for 9 1/2 years. Main street is a Superfund Site, and the town has a real water problem with their wells. Stay away.

[mrspjc]

I just moved to Durham 4 months ago and I love it. It's a very quiet town but still close to everything. I take my dog to Peiper-Olson in Middletown just off 155 which I have been very satisfied with.

[lickyleo]

Great vet, Peiper-Olson, A nice town as long as you do not mind the cow manure smell on a hot, humid day.

[Mushinronjya]

I've lived in the town for 18 years. I loved it. I lived at 74 Ernest Drive. I miss it and can't wait to go back this year for the fair (I'll be spending a week there or more!).
I never had any problems with water up there, so whoever posted that, I have had no experience with that. It's always been a great town.. so worth it. It's like a paradise hidden from the world... you can drive 15 minutes and be somewhere, and come home to a nice, quiet town. I love it.. just so cold for me in the winter!

[mels]

I second Piper-Olsen as a vet. They are part of CT Valley Veterinary Associates which has 6 animal hospitals (I go to the one in Marlborough). Piper-Olsen is the vet out of the group that provides emergency services (off hours). They are a great group, I highly recommend them. Their website is CT VET

[celcius]

Everyone's already said so, but I'll just add my part for reinforcement. Durham is, in fact, a great town. I'm from Guilford shore (different feel, despite being neighbors), but in the past I extensively dated someone in Durham (she lived on Tuttle Rd, btw, which I think is just around the corner from you, Mushinronjya) and continue to spend considerable time there with a circle of friends I've maintained from that relationship.

The town is very small in population. There is a lot of farm/cow land and open space (the fairgrounds especially). The entire town's police force consists of one resident state trooper. It is nice and quiet 362 days of year, the 3 loud days being the weekend of the Durham Fair, one of the largest agricultural fairs in North America. The people are, in general, very pleasant. For all I've done in the town, I've never had a problem with anyone or experienced any unusual or rude behavior—the town is very well-mannered. There are slight traces of immeasurable wealth (check out Vin Baker's mansion on Pineledge Trl!), but most of the town is upper-middle class. The school system is excellent: Coginchaug Regional High is a highly ranked high school. There is a slight country-farm-ish feel, and any day of the year it is not unusual to see someone driving a tractor down main street.

All in all, great town and very characteristic of Connecticut. Thanks for listening and good luck with your move,

celcius

[kristin1]

Just wanted to bump this up to see if there is any more info on Durham. We will begin to seriously search for a home in less than a week, and we had narrowed our choices to Essex, Deep River, Chester and Higganum. However, we have heard alot of great things about Durham and would like to expand our search.

Please tell me you were being facetious regarding the Superfund site. Has anyone else heard of this?