Thinking of West Hartford CT (New Britain, Farmington: condo, crime rate, house)

sabrina07 · 02-05-2007, 09:59 AM

I am thinking of relocating to West Hartford CT. I have 3 kids and education is very important. So is a safe area to live.

I got a teaching offer at the University of Hartford and moving from the west coast, I have seen that I could afford a nice house in West Hartford. I am originally from NJ so the cold does not bother me.

From what I have seen, West Hartford seems like a great place to live, very diverse, liberal, and educated. However, it borders Hartford and Hartford looks kind of scary based on the crime stats and that people are leaving the city quickly.

Would anyone who know West Hartford and that overall area NOT move to West Hartford because it borders Hartford? Should that be a major concern?

Also, are the schools safe? I'm concerned about safety and quality of education in the middle schools and high schools. Are some better than others?

What are the major negatives to West Hartford with 3 kids who would go through public schools there?

I also want to add that I am a 40 something single mom. And I wonder if living in West Hartford would be very isolating if I'm not married? Does West Hartford have activites and a social life at all? My kids are my top priority, but I don't want to be forever single as well. Are there other singles there or is it mostly married life? I worry I will feel isolated living so far from a major city.

Thanks!

mels · 02-05-2007, 10:11 AM

I don't think you will feel isolated in West Hartford at all. There is a lot going on and a mix of ages with a great downtown area. The areas of Hartford it borders are nicer areas, the Governor's mansion is in Hartford right near the West Hartford line if that is any indication. The public schools are good, by all accounts you want the Hall High School district (northern part of town) rather than Conard High.

skytrekker · 02-05-2007, 10:14 AM

You seem to have a great expansive view of West Hartford. And it is true the areas of town close to Hartford might appear to be 'borderline'-

However Hartford is doing a good job at rebuilding- the new Science Center downtown should be very iconic, visually - and what it has to offer for the region. And the west end of Hartford is rather bohemian then rundown.

West Hartford has a great center- and with the new 'Blueback Square' should offer even more in entertainment, the Arts, upscale shopping and fine (not chain) Restaurants.

West Hartford has St. Josephs College- and nearby in New Britain-Central CT State University.

West Hartford Parks and Recreation has many excellent programs.

Areas of West Hartford closest to Avon and Farmington are the most desirable, but even in West Hartford center there are very nice homes and Condo's that are priced far far below what they would cost in California in the same location.

Schools in town are for the most part very good- some say Hall HS is better then Conard. http://www.whps.org/conard/ (broken link)
http://www.whps.org/schools/hall/index.htm (broken link)

http://www.whps.org/

You will find the quality of schools in town to be equal or better then Private schools elsewhere.

BigHouse9 · 02-05-2007, 10:21 AM

I coached hockey in West Hartford and played there for a long time as well. It really is a very nice community and I found the kids and parents to be great there. There are some nice private schools in town although there is nothing wrong with the public schools there. The downtown area of WH is excellent as well. The town has a lot of municipal activities for kids too. I don't think you can go wrong there.

debct · 02-05-2007, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sabrina07

I am thinking of relocating to West Hartford CT. I have 3 kids and education is very important. So is a safe area to live.

I got a teaching offer at the University of Hartford and moving from the west coast, I have seen that I could afford a nice house in West Hartford. I am originally from NJ so the cold does not bother me.

From what I have seen, West Hartford seems like a great place to live, very diverse, liberal, and educated. However, it borders Hartford and Hartford looks kind of scary based on the crime stats and that people are leaving the city quickly.

Would anyone who know West Hartford and that overall area NOT move to West Hartford because it borders Hartford? Should that be a major concern?

Also, are the schools safe? I'm concerned about safety and quality of education in the middle schools and high schools. Are some better than others?

What are the major negatives to West Hartford with 3 kids who would go through public schools there?

I also want to add that I am a 40 something single mom. And I wonder if living in West Hartford would be very isolating if I'm not married? Does West Hartford have activites and a social life at all? My kids are my top priority, but I don't want to be forever single as well. Are there other singles there or is it mostly married life? I worry I will feel isolated living so far from a major city.

Thanks!

West harford is a fun and vibrant town. Harford does have problems. Still West Hartford is very nice. I have heard the Elmwood section had gone down. DO not quote me on that one though. West Hartfod also has the UNCOON West hartforf campus, St JOsephs and Hartford College for Women. The schools have a good rep.

purplecatfish · 02-05-2007, 02:04 PM

I grew up in West Hartford. The Elmwood part of West Hartford. It started to go down hill then but is much worse now. IF I were to move back to West Hartford it would be the Hall High School section of town. Sedgwick middle school is plagued with some wannabe gang that has caused some major problems in the last couple of years. I wouldn't want my kid going to Sedgwick or Conard now for that matter.

Conard is an old school, they have updated it quite a bit since I was there but it's still Conard. Hall was always the better of the two schools and remains so. Even being in the Hall section you are still bordering Hartford so with that being said you could also check out Avon it's just over the mountain and is very nice.

debct · 02-07-2007, 11:19 AM

Farmington is near by, another town you may want to look into.

RxDoctor · 02-21-2007, 09:29 PM

i would look farther west myself.. Farmington, Simsbury, Avon.. West Hartford is WAY too close to a crime ridden city like hartford.. Last thing you want is your children making there way anywhere east of prospect ave without a gun in hand.

skytrekker · 02-22-2007, 04:46 AM

Hartford's crime rate is much lower then Atlanta's I believe- And the greater Hartford metro areas crime rate is substantially below metro Atlanta's. Also the west end of Hartford is a gay enclave- the gay community has done much to rebuild the west end of Hartford-which borders West Hartford. Saying it is a horrible crime ridden area is a totally untrue. Want to see lots of crime?- visit some urban centers in the deep south.

JViello · 02-22-2007, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RxDoctor

i would look farther west myself.. Farmington, Simsbury, Avon.. West Hartford is WAY too close to a crime ridden city like hartford.. Last thing you want is your children making there way anywhere east of prospect ave without a gun in hand.

Nonsense, and irresponsible to say the least.

I guess you don't know the culture of Atlanta then. I'll take the few, managable, bad neighborhoods in Hartford any day over the HUGE crime/culture problem in the A-T-L (If you don't get what spelling the letters that way means, look it up and get educated on what the Ae - Tee - Ell is becoming.).

All that "bad" you moved away to avoid is coming on in spades down South while the Hartford area has learned from it's mistakes and is on the fast track of making "better".

You really should come back and visit. Park street is now well landscaped and a vibrant Latin enclave for instance and there are over 2 billion in projects near completion or under way in Hartford and that's just the beginning.