[ComingtoCT]

We just moved to CT from the Bay area and just signed a 6 mo lease in Greenwich. We had to move quickly and the rental in Greenwich was the only thing that worked out. I will be working in Norwalk and my wife will be working from home. The problem is the housing prices in that area are rather discouraging and we see that we can get more for our money if we moved out somewhat. We cashed out of CA and don't want to break even. A home under $600 would be ideal. However we are somewhat picky so I was hoping someone can help us.

Requirements would be

- A town not far from a Metro North station (15 minutes maximum)
- We are not a fan of what seems to be a rat race, go go lifestyle, so we'd prefer a town that has some elbow room, a fair amount of land (an acre or more)
- friendly
- lots of younger families with community involvement
- good schools since we plan to stay and raise a family
- some farms would be nice, and TREES!
- not more than 10 miles from light [grocery] shopping, not more than 20 miles from a mall or a downtown
- upscale but not too much "Greenwich wealth". Way too much money and attitude.
- close to Woodbury (20 miles?)

Good friends of ours recently moved from the Bay area to Woodbury and that seems like quite a drive to Metro North stations and Norwalk. We have read quite a lot about Southbury and Oxford but we have not gotten a chance to visit just yet. Which is closer to Metro North? I looked on the MTA website and I see there is a train switch in Bridgeport. I don't mind a longer train ride if it gets me off congested highways and I can get work done on the train. The only thing that worries me about a switch is the wait between trains, is it long? We visited Fairfield, Trumbull, Shelton and Stratford last week and they are not what we are looking for. I also see there is an early train on Waterbury's line and that works in my favor. I can walk to work from the Norwalk station.

So there you have it. You are probably thinking we are hard to please, but we just want to find the right place. I guess you can say we have narrowed it down to the two towns so any and all information anyone can provide would be helpful. Or any other towns we are missing?

Also what about hurricanes? Should we worry, and prepare with appropriate insurance?

Thanks, cheers!

[jdhall1]

You might want to check out northern Fairfield County (Bethel,Brookfield, Danbury, Newtown, New Fairfield). You get a lot more house for your money up here compared to Fairfield and areas down there. Good luck!

[reason180]

The train from Waterbury to Norwalk does require a transfer in Bridgeport. It is only a five minute wait.

You might also want to check out Redding and Ridgefield which have metro-north stations along the Danbury branch.

Woodbridge might interest you too. It is a small town that borders New Haven(lots of Yale faculty live there).

[JayCT]

I am not sure what you expect to get for $600k but Easton and Weston have large lot zoning (mostly 2 and 3 acre lots) and are not too far from shopping and trains in Westport and Fairfield. Another town to consider is Monroe which is just north of Trumbull.

If you decide that you would be willing to deal with the limited train service on the Waterbury line and the train switch in Bridgeport, you may want to consider Seymour or neighboring Oxford. Seymour is an older mill town that has been discovered by people. It doesn't have the rural character you seem to be looking for but Oxford does. You could catch the Waterbury line train at Seymour station. Keep in mind though that service is limited on the Waterbury Line so I would check to make sure the trains will get you to work on time and home when you want. Jay

[skytrekker]

Hurricanes here are not a common event- sometime an errant tropical storm will work itself up the eastern coast-

The last really major event took place in 1985- that caused a fair amount of damage to the state- with power outages, up rooted trees, and coastal damage.

Before that it was the mid 1950s- where flooding caused significant damage, both along the coast with a storm surge and inland with rivers overflowing their banks.

The most significant hurricane here in modern history was the Great New England hurricane of 1938- which pummeled the state. 600 lives where lost, major coastal damage from a storm surge, inland flooding from heavy rains and over a million trees uprooted. It was the worst hurricane since the Great Colonial storm of 1635, which hit the Massachusetts bay colony.

Insurance along the CT shoreline will cost more, then lets say a location 20 miles inland.

I would avoid areas south of the I 95 corridor, not only from Tropical cyclones but problems associated with climate change- sea rise, storms etc.

[ComingtoCT]

I am sorry for not specifying further. We are looking for a newer colonial with at least three beds. We did look at Bethel, Redding and Brookfield but were not impressed. We would prefer more woods, less chain stores but similar prices (Redding is very expensive, so something cheaper). That is how we ended up with Southbury and Oxford. Also they seem closer to Woodbury, which is a must since my wife will be spending a lot of time with our friends. Does anyone have specifics on these towns?

[skytrekker]

Oxford is close by and pleasant, also Middlebury. Oakville and Watertown are a bit more Old New England mill town- but have charm- and prices will be considerably less then all the towns discussed thus far.

[ComingtoCT]

Originally Posted by skytrekker

Oxford is close by and pleasant, also Middlebury. Oakville and Watertown are a bit more Old New England mill town- but have charm- and prices will be considerably less then all the towns discussed thus far.

Great thanks! We will look into Oakville and Watertown. A search shows they are more affordable than Oxford and Southbury. Where is the closest train station to the towns you suggested? Mapquest shows they are further though.

Does anyone have more info on Oxford and Southbury? What is a locals point of view, if there are locals on here. Thank you! Will check back tomorrow!

[Rich Lee]

Originally Posted by ComingtoCT

Great thanks! We will look into Oakville and Watertown.

FYI...Oakville is in Watertown.

[MetsNY]

Monroe, Trumbull, Newtown perhaps?