[Annablue516]

After reading many of these posts, I'm trying to weigh in one state vs. the other. I see many complaining about real estate taxes, home heating, utitilies, and car insurance. What would it cost to heat a house about 3,000 sq. feet in Stratford. We only have one vehicle, but would need to get another (so there's another cost). After visiting Putnam County, it seems they have more property taxes, but perhaps they are just about the same. I know all is relative but it's still good to gain some insight. My husband would commute to NYC, so pretty much that would be the same, either way. Thanks again to all, for all the knowledge and insight.

[Rich Lee]

While growing up, my cousins lived in Putnam County and my siblings and I lived in southeastern Dutchess County. They (my cousins) always ranked on us for "having nothing" where we lived. Ironically, they all live in southeastern Dutchess County now!

Their main gripes were the cost of living in Putnam County (land/school taxes and sales taxes) compared to Dutchess.

Here's the typical migration: Nassau County to Westchester County, Westchester to Fairfield County, Fairfield to Putnam, Rockland, or New Haven County.

If you choose New York, your motor vehicle registration fees will be significantly less. However, sales taxes can creep up to 8.75 percent. (Oneida County is 9.5 percent.)

Sometimes, it's better to live near the state line and cross over when advantageous: Conn. to N.Y. for alcohol on Sundays or after 9:00 pm; N.Y. to Conn. for clothing and Powerball!

As for commuting to Gotham, MTA Metro-North is available in Putnam (Hudson and Harlem lines) and Fairfield (New Haven line) Counties:

http://www.mta.info/mnr/

[nish2006]

Originally Posted by Annablue516

After reading many of these posts, I'm trying to weigh in one state vs. the other. I see many complaining about real estate taxes, home heating, utitilies, and car insurance. What would it cost to heat a house about 3,000 sq. feet in Stratford. We only have one vehicle, but would need to get another (so there's another cost). After visiting Putnam County, it seems they have more property taxes, but perhaps they are just about the same. I know all is relative but it's still good to gain some insight. My husband would commute to NYC, so pretty much that would be the same, either way. Thanks again to all, for all the knowledge and insight.

I can answer the question about heating costs, based on our home which is around that size in Stratford. We have gas heating with three zones. Bills averaged around $360.00 a month for a family of three, last December thru March.

[Ourdreamhouse]

Originally Posted by Rich Lee

Here's the typical migration: Nassau County to Westchester County, Westchester to Fairfield County, Fairfield to Putnam, Rockland, or New Haven County.

I don't understand this piece of information. What typical migration? Your family members? I've never heard of ANYONE voluntarily moving from Fairfield to Putnam. Why would they?

IMHO, without regard to costs or commute times, Stratford -- or almost anyplace in Fairfield County -- would be much preferable to anyplace in Putnam County.

[seymourct]

The costs this year will be different than last year, thanks to all the oil futures traders.

If you can get an oil co. to give you a cap price vs locked in then you pay market price on the day of your oil fills, up to what ever your cap price is.

If you go with fixed prices you pay your price regardless of what the market does.

So based on your choice you'd have to figure that out on your own. When looking at a house, ASK ASK ASK. If you ask your realtor to get the owner to provide a history of how many oil gallons they used the last 2 years then they are supposed to provide that information. If you know how many gallons, then you can figure out your yearly cost and divide by 12 for the monthly.

We used 880 gallons over a 12 month period.

[Rich Lee]

Originally Posted by Ourdreamhouse

I don't understand this piece of information. What typical migration? Your family members? I've never heard of ANYONE voluntarily moving from Fairfield to Putnam. Why would they?

IMHO, without regard to costs or commute times, Stratford -- or almost anyplace in Fairfield County -- would be much preferable to anyplace in Putnam County.

No, not my family (I described our paths). There are those in Northern Fairfield County that move to Patterson, Brewster, or Carmel and still catch the train to the City. Why? Price.

From wikipedia: Putnam County is one of the most affluent counties in America, ranked 11th by median household income, and 47th by per-capita income, according to the year 2000 census.

This makes it more affordable than Fairfield County. Is it their desired location? Maybe...maybe not. I did state that they also consider Rockland and New Haven Counties as well.

I don't necessarily agree with your statement (bolded). Western Putnam County is nice.

[LoveToHug]

The trouble with Stratford is it is on the jet stream direction above the Bridgeport Power plant, and during the Foliage months near the coastal areas, you can see depressed foliage among the trees because the Bridgeport Power plant emits 80000 pounds of Hydrochloric acid annually. This acid then travels along the jet stream in a North easterly direction. They've been burning coal or other items there for decades. Is it illegal? Who knows? But they are certified by the EPA, and the EPA knows about the emissions.

There was a rumor that they were changing over to Hydrogen power, but there was never any final news on that. One reason for this is the cost of Platinum had gone up exponentially because Pt is needed to produce Hydrogen cheaply.

There are other ways to produce Hydrogen, such as the high temperature steam mixed with propane and you get 3.5 times the amount of Hydrogen than you would with Platinum.

I was about to buy a house in Stratford when i noticed the depressed foliage in the area, so i researched about it, and found the technical info about the Bridgeport Power plant.

In addition to all of this...there is a very high incidence of allergies and lung problems among children in Connecticut.

It is well know that we still get tons of particulate matter from the 10 large coal burning plants in Ohio, and our state attorney, Mr. Blumenthal, is suing those power plants in a HUGE lawsuit against them.

It is also a known fact that the USA has Coal reserves for the next 250 years SOLID!!! SO we need scientists in this area to study how to burn it cleanly. COAL power is used because its very cheap!
All you have to do is start a fire with the coal, then you keep the fire burning by adding more and more coal at a steady rate, forever and ever!...you use barely any eletricity on the input, that is why coal power is so cheap.

Connecticut will continue to suffer with particulate matter also from New Jersey's Crude petrol distillation plants in northeastern NJ and coal burning plants from OH.

NO real estate salesperson or broker would ever dare tell you about this! They may lose a sale!

Better breathing air is South of all these power plants and crude petrol processing facilities.