[AKF]

I am looking at Waterbury as a possible move from Indiana. Could anyone please comment on this place? Most of what I am reading is negative. Are there ANY GOOD things about Waterbury that should make this an ideal place to live in?
Any information about the cost of living, diversity, crime, close proximity to bigger cities and an overall feeling of this area would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Rich Lee]

AKF,

Please (PLEASE) consider all surrounding towns in addition to Waterbury. As a real estate agent, we are not allowed to pick towns for individuals or to lead people away from one and toward others.

Consider the following:

1) For a population of 110,000, Waterbury has twice the real estate (current, on-the-market) inventory (435 single-family properties) versus cities of equal or greater size (New Haven, 200; Hartford, 135; Bridgeport, 464). Although it appears that Waterbury is in line with Bridgeport, Waterbury has a population of 110,000 to Bridgeport's 145,000;

2) The city's fiscal solvency and/or responsibility are an on-going problem;

3) The terrain (outskirts - Town Plot, Bucks Hill, Bunker Hill) is hilly with tiered or terraced yards and some somewhat steep roads/driveways.

Rich

[mels]

Originally Posted by AKF

I am looking at Waterbury as a possible move from Indiana. Could anyone please comment on this place? Most of what I am reading is negative. Are there ANY GOOD things about Waterbury that should make this an ideal place to live in?
Any information about the cost of living, diversity, crime, close proximity to bigger cities and an overall feeling of this area would be appreciated.

Thanks

I will be honest with you, the vast majority of Waterbury is a dump. The housing prices are lower than other adjacent areas because it is a dump. You don’t hear of too many murders, but crime is definitely a factor to consider. Taxes are very high there do to fiscal wrongdoings by the town government in the past. Google “Philip Giordano” and you can see the misdoing of that mayor who is currently in prison.

I would suggest many, many other areas before Waterbury. There are nicer suburbs around there and if you don’t want the ‘burbs I would look into New Haven instead. There are a couple decent areas of Waterbury (Town Plot, Bucks Hill, Bunker Hill), but the taxes will kill you. Even if you rent you will still pay taxes on your car and they will be sky high.

[Rich Lee]

Originally Posted by AKF

I am looking at Waterbury as a possible move from Indiana. Could anyone please comment on this place? Most of what I am reading is negative. Are there ANY GOOD things about Waterbury that should make this an ideal place to live in?

Waterbury is on the Naugatuck River. Its downtown, near the Town Hall and City Hall, is flat. However, most of Waterbury is along rolling hills (North and East) or very steep hills (West, near Waterbury Hospital and Town Plot). The area near Cheshire is also somewhat level.

Waterbury does have a mall, The Brass Mill Center (opened 1997), with anchor stores consisting of Sears, JC Penney and Macy*s. It took about 9 years to get the last anchor store location filled. It was intended to be a Lechmere until that chain filed bankruptcy. Instead, a Burlington Coat Factory and Steve & Barry's.

One project recently completed is the Palace Theatre - the renovation of a theatre which originally opened its door in 1922. Adjacent to the Palace Theatre is UConn - Waterbury.

Originally Posted by AKF

Any information about the cost of living, diversity, crime, close proximity to bigger cities and an overall feeling of this area would be appreciated.

Waterbury's housing prices are among the lowest in New Haven County and certainly the lowest along the I-84 corridor from Danbury to West Hartford.

Waterbury is diverse. According to CERC.com (Connecticut Economic Research Center), Waterbury is comprised of:

109,192 Approximate population (groups are not mutually exclusive)
75,137 White
17,147 Black
27,427 Hispanic

The same site also shows the following data regarding SAT scores:

Waterbury MATH 418
State Avg MATH 508

Waterbury VERBAL 423
State Avg VERBAL 508

Waterbury is about 20 - 25 minutes from Danbury and Hartford along I-84, traffic permitting. It is about 30 minutes from Bridgeport (Route 8).

Waterbury's rate is 55.49 mils. Simply stated, a tax payer owes $55.49 per $1000 of assessed property. Since Waterbury's real estate is assessed low, its taxes aren't as high as they would be in a town with high assessments. However, this can be a kick in the pants when it comes time to pay car (personal property) taxes. Some Waterbury residents are surprised to find that they owe $700 on a 5-year-old Civic!

[AKF]

thank you both for those stats. you mentioned other "areas". the reason i looked into waterbury is because of the comparable cost of living/property value to indiana. i actually like the new haven area, however, what other areas would you advice that are comparable to waterbury in terms of cost of living etc but not as "dumpy"?

thanks

[Rich Lee]

Originally Posted by AKF

thank you both for those stats. you mentioned other "areas". the reason i looked into waterbury is because of the comparable cost of living/property value to indiana. i actually like the new haven area, however, what other areas would you advice that are comparable to waterbury in terms of cost of living etc but not as "dumpy"?

thanks

Meriden, Bristol, Middletown, and Plainville. Prices will be a little higher, but you will probably be happier in the long run.

What will be your reason for relocation? In which town(s) will you job be located?

[melkat]

ITA with the PP's...you do NOT want to live in Waterbury! It is depressing enough to have to drive just through it on I-84

[debct]

I second the person that recomended plainville. CLose to 84, good schools low crime, stores, movies ect.

[skytrekker]

Waterbury proper....

has one of the worse reputations in the state; some of this is earned, some is not- there are worse places to live believe me-towns outside of it like Middlebury, Thomaston, and Plainville are aesthetically more attractive.

[AKF]

thank you!

waterbury is definitely off my list!


p.s.s. i am coming from a midwestern city...this place is "the" dump! do any of you have any idea if waterbury would be a proper comparison to a midwestern city? (and I am not talking about Chicago either!!!)...just curious.