[nu2ct]

Hello everyone,

I want to start my post with a disclaimer. I know that talking about the personality of people in a area is resorting to generalizations and even stereotyping BUT I will do so any way.

We are moving to West Hartford and understand that overall this is an affluent area. We are sneaking into a nice area by buying a small house. While the schools are top notch and there is much to do in the area, we are worried about being immersed in an "uppity" population. We want to keep our young children grounded.

Please share your experiences with the people of this area. Thanks.

[MemphisMonkeyMane]

Originally Posted by nu2ct

Hello everyone,

I want to start my post with a disclaimer. I know that talking about the personality of people in a area is resorting to generalizations and even stereotyping BUT I will do so any way.

We are moving to West Hartford and understand that overall this is an affluent area. We are sneaking into a nice area by buying a small house. While the schools are top notch and there is much to do in the area, we are worried about being immersed in an "uppity" population. We want to keep our young children grounded.

Please share your experiences with the people of this area. Thanks.

Opinion, based on experience...mine only

I lived there for a short period, but do not live there now. The area is no worse, in re 'uppity' than most extremely upscale suburbs...with one exception- it's very very "NY corridor dominated"

I also attended prep school with quite a few guys and gals from West Hartford (I wasn't even living there at the time even)...all were kids you could classify as snobby, and in retrospect, they were all 'obnoxious', 'in-your-face' brats with some sort of sense of entitlement- and undeserving so in my opinion...

If you have worries about your kids being 'grounded', perhaps you picked the wrong community in the NY corridor...

This area wins the award in my view....worse than areas such as Skokie, Schaumburg IL, Zionsville OH, West Montreal PQ CA, Shaker Hieghts OH, Mountain Brook, AL, White Plains NY and a host of other 'snobby dominated', 'in-your-face', $$$-grubbing, suburban American communities.

In short, I would never again reside (knowingly) in a community like that...and certainly not with children that are easily influenced by material and social considerations.

Enough said about 'opinion' I guess....don't be a putz

[rajmelk]

Originally Posted by nu2ct

Hello everyone,

I want to start my post with a disclaimer. I know that talking about the personality of people in a area is resorting to generalizations and even stereotyping BUT I will do so any way.

We are moving to West Hartford and understand that overall this is an affluent area. We are sneaking into a nice area by buying a small house. While the schools are top notch and there is much to do in the area, we are worried about being immersed in an "uppity" population. We want to keep our young children grounded.

Please share your experiences with the people of this area. Thanks.

Moved here less than a year ago. Have found the people to be extremely reserved (by most standards), but our child made lots of friends very quickly in Aiken Elementary.

[DandJ]

What are typical kids

all were kids you could classify as snobby, typical kids, and in retrospect, they were all 'obnoxious', 'in-your-face' brats with some sort of sense of entitlement- and undeserving so in my opinion...

[MemphisMonkeyMane]

Originally Posted by DandJ

What are "typical kids"?

the ones that share common traits with other kids in the community..

or share similar community/religious/family interests....


pretty common stuff methinks.....



meshuggenehs

[KH02]

I lived their for awhile.
It is not uppity at all if you ask me.
Yes, it has good schools and is a nice area to live in.
But the feel isn't THAT upscale if you ask me.
I LOVE the town, but it's got houses that are alot more affordable then neighboring more uppity towns (simsbury, Avon, Farmington) but even those towns aren't the worst i've seen.

Typical Upscale snooty towns do not have as much affordable housing and tend to not be as developed commercially...

But good luck. West Hartford is a good choice.

[skytrekker]

West Hartford has a significant Irish, Yankee, Latino, Asian and Jewish community- as well as mixed racial & ethnic groups. It also has a minority of Gay & lesbians.

[nu2ct]

Sky, I know the eastern and southeastern parts are more diverse. We will be further towards downtown. We're zoned for Bugbee, which is 18% minority. I hope the diversity manifests in our area but I get the idea that it will not.

BTW, "Yankee" as in baseball? That is enough to drive me out of town...

[WILWRadio]

Even though Simsbury is my hometown I did live in West Hartford for about 15 years (Wood Pond neighborhood on the west side) as an adult and also experienced the town of West Hartford during my youth because my Grandparents lived there and many of the kids in our church, located in Hartford, were from West Hartford.

My two plus decades worth of experience with that town showed that a lot of people regardless of their race, ethnicity or religious affiliation were obnoxious. I belong to a Swedish Lutheran congregation and the most obnoxious kids in our sunday school class were from West Hartford but of Swedish descent.

The entire town is not like that though and as someone earlier pointed out the people are quite reserved. I think you'll find this to be especially true of most Connecticut cities and towns. People are comfortable rubbing elbows with people they know and they take their time getting to know newcomers.

[JoeYanxfan]

Originally Posted by nu2ct

BTW, "Yankee" as in baseball? That is enough to drive me out of town...

No, I believe Skytrekker was referencing "New England Yankees." To which I must disagree. The town may look New England from the outside looking in (especially in the NW corner of town), but IMHO, the general feel is much more fast-paced NY--particularly similar to Long Island. It is def. the most NY-oriented suburb CLOSE to Hartford. In the Farmington Valley, there seems to be a slightly larger uppity "WASPy" "New England" "Yankee" wannabe contigent.