[hsw]

Pros:
Lots of very smart, well-educated people, esp in Greenwich corridor
Lower state income taxes than CA/NY
Cheap, plentiful, scenic residential land in desirable areas, w/easy tear-down/new construction dynamics (Greenwich backcountry land costs 50% less per acre than comparable land in SF's Woodside)

Cons:
Weather: winter cold, slick, salt-covered roads and summer humidity
Much slower traffic flow btwn Greenwich and Manhattan (comparing the 40-60 mi drive from SF to SiliconValley)....just as in SiliconValley, many younger people who work at Greenwich hedge funds live in Manhattan and drive to Greenwich: a much more difficult drive than SF to SV
CT is heavily dependent upon hedge fund industry in Greenwich (and Manhattan's financial industry) for tax revenue....much as CA's budget is heavily influenced by SiliconValley tech industry's options exercises/stock sales for tax revenue
Lacks CA's risks of quakes but faces NYC's elevated risks of terror events

[suem5150]

Cons:
Housing and property taxes are high (but house prices starting to fall)
Traffic on I-95 can be heavy
Takes forever to get road work completed
A few humid weeks in summer (but its mid-Aug and already over so not so bad)

Pros:
Its a very pretty state, charming with quaint new england towns near the water
Excellent education system
Beaches
Good family neighborhoods that feel safe
Near NYC, Boston and metro north
No tornados, earthquakes, mudslides
Intellegent, interesting, warmhearted, hardworking people
Filming is taking place all over CT - we watched 2 filmings in our hometown
I don't think winters are not that bad here at all (at least not hear the shoreline) - maybe one or two big snowstorms and a few little guys but that's it - we actually have been disappointed there hasn't been more snow

[skytrekker]

Just a few additional thoughts

Housing prices outside of Fairfield county are slightly above the national median- but places like Seattle, Portland Oregon, Miami, Most of California, Greater NYC, Greater Boston, Washington DC/NoVa are all higher- Greater Hartford has housing prices that are below that of Greater Chicago.

Housing in the state is not ultra cheap like Indiana, KY Missouri or most inland land locked states-

Taxes for real estate are high here. Schools are by in large quiet good.
Connecticut has a dynamic progressive culture that is changing to suit the needs of a global economy-

Social climate is mostly accepting of alternative lifestyles and thinking- and not dogmatic with heavy religious overtones. The quality of life is among the top 5 states nationally.

Climate is moderate for its northern location. Although the state is small there are micro climates. The northwest part of the state has more snow in the winter, and lower temperatures. Nonetheless the state is now all considered a zone 6 USDA- with the shoreline and south eastern CT a zone 7 (Zone 6 lowest temps 0 to-10; Zone 7 0 to 10 above). The nearby Atlantic does much to moderate winter temperatures, and in the summer moderates heat.

Actually the state climatically is now separated by the I 84 corridor- with the area above I 84 considered a 'humid continental climate' with the area to the south of I 84 having a 'humid subtropical climate'.

[coastalrap]

I’ve Lived in six states and about to add a seventh but lived in CT for most of my life so my thoughts are based on comparisons of the small samplings of other places I’ve experienced. Before I moved from CT I thought it was the best place I could ever hope to live, but now, you might say I’ve seen the light.

First, quality of life? With the high cost of living, taxes on everything and traffic I would not call the quality of life in CT to be that great. It’s saved somewhat by a pretty strong and consistent economy.

Schools, CT does have many decent government schools but depending on where you live, very lacking on good private schools.

Beaches? Yeah I used to think CT had beaches too.

Access to airports, depending on where you live you could be as much as two hours away. Not much fun when you land in JFK at 9:30 PM.

]It is close to NYC but again, depending on where you live, they forgot to put roads to get there. And while I’m on the subject of roads

Once you get out of the cities, CT is a beautiful state and for two weeks out of the year you’re loving the fall foliage and crisp air, but then cursing it for the next three weeks while you’re freezing your butt off removing them from your yard and gutters.

]On the west side of the state, there must be more pizzerias per capita than anyplace except for NYC and Chicago. In fact there is no shortage of ethnic food and it’s all great!

If you ski, there are some fun places close enough to for an easy day trip. But for me, by Thanksgiving, it’s too cold to do anything outside until April and then it’s the spring rainy season. Great weather from June through about the middle of October and anything can happen.

Finally, much to all the school age kids disappointment, the crews that remove all that snow from the streets, are the best I’ve ever seen

[skytrekker]

Quality of life is not based entirely on economics coastalrap

Its based on many other criteria; Health of citizens; local services; health for kids; access to culture; local higher education; rights for minorities- (African Americans, women Gays) And opportunities and protection. CT also ranks as being one of the safest states.


Forbes Magazine says the state ranks 4th of all states for quality of life. Taxes are high here- but in many states that have cheaper living costs and taxes- they rank way below Connecticut for overall 'quality of life.'

[ComingtoCT]

Originally Posted by skytrekker

Just a few additional thoughts

Housing prices outside of Fairfield county are slightly above the national median- but places like Seattle, Portland Oregon, Miami, Most of California, Greater NYC, Greater Boston, Washington DC/NoVa are all higher- Greater Hartford has housing prices that are below that of Greater Chicago.

Skytrekker you are comparing the most affordable part of CT to the most expensive part of every other state. That is not giving a balanced perspective. Sorry.

[skytrekker]

I disagree with you- Coming to CT- Fairfield county accounts for about 30-35% of the states population.

Greater New Haven and Greater Hartford, New London County and eastern CT account for the other two thirds I feel it is a more then balanced view-sorry.

I know the states Geography, its population centers- Fairfield county has nearly 950 thousand people out of a state of 3.5 million- the other 2.6 million live out side of this expensive part of the state. Do your homework before you say what is not 'balanced.'

If you like I can provide links to the NAR for median home prices in all the mentioned areas of CT- as well as the other aforementioned locations I named above in my earlier post.

Your 'Skytrekker you are comparing the most affordable part of CT to the most expensive part of every other state. That is not giving a balanced perspective'. Sorry.

Is inaccurate- since CT is a tiny state- most of the other states are far larger- and CT lies totally within the north east BosWash corridor of the megalopolis. The geographic proximity to all these places makes your assertion that I am comparing CT home prices to the most expensive parts of those states meaningless.

[Rich Lee]

Originally Posted by skytrekker

I disagree with you - Coming to CT - Fairfield County accounts for about 30-35% of the state's population...

...25.64 percent (I posted it yesterday).

[skytrekker]

Thanks Rich!

It certainly makes my contention all the more accurate.

[ComingtoCT]

Originally Posted by skytrekker

I disagree with you- Coming to CT- Fairfield county accounts for about 30-35% of the states population.

Greater New Haven and Greater Hartford, New London County and eastern CT account for the other two thirds I feel it is a more then balanced view-sorry.

I know the states Geography, its population centers- Fairfield county has nearly 950 thousand people out of a state of 3.5 million- the other 2.6 million live out side of this expensive part of the state. Do your homework before you say what is not 'balanced.'

If you like I can provide links to the NAR for median home prices in all the mentioned areas of CT- as well as the other aforementioned locations I named above in my earlier post.

Skytrekker

It is a fact that you have compared the most expensive areas to the other states you mentioned to the Hartford area, the cheapest metro in CT. I suggest you do your homework and get back to us before you push your agenda.