[smichboyd]

Hey Gang,
I'm still looking into which city in CT to pick to move to; we are moving this summer. All of the feedback from the threads I've seen on Bridgeport have tons of negative feedback. My question is this: is this feedback from people who live in Bridgeport, or who have lived there recently? I'd like some feedback from people who actually live in Bridgeport. Bridgeport is listed as a good place to buy. Does the city seem like it is improving? Has the issue of corruption been solved (as much as political corruption can be solved)? What is the story of all this money that is being poured into city revitalization? How would you describe the personality of Bridgepot? Thanks for the info guys.

[JoethePainter]

All I can ask is WHY would you pick bridgport? If you want to move to a innercity, with all the baggage that goes with one, that is the city you want...Me personaly, you couldn`t pay me enough to live there... I live two towns over, and been in this area for 45 yrs.... JtP

[smichboyd]

Since my husband is in the military we move frequently. Making wise home purchases has been one method of investing in our future. Brigeport is listed as #3 of "Places to Buy" in a CNN Money Magazine article. I thought it prudent to at least begin researching the city.

[skytrekker]

Bridgeport's problems mirror other cities in Connecticut- including New Haven and Hartford as well as Waterbury. Poor residents, not so good schools and some crime issues. Hartford is doing a reasonably good job at an 'urban renaissance' Its new science center will be an iconic presence in the city. New Haven is thriving again based on Yale ,Health care and stem cell research/drugs. Bridgeport's 'growth' is likely to be in finance- as an appendage of Stamford and New York. London and New York are competing to be the worlds premier centers of global hedge funds and finance.

CNN is predicating its ranking on mainly this extrapolation - and other intangibles- the deep water port, the states high quality of life-educational institutions and cultural intellectual standing- which ranks very high compared to other regions.

The entire state of Connecticut has reasonable housing prices for the states geographic location, near New York, and the famous center of thinking and research to the North east-Boston. Most towns in the states outside of the above named cities have very good schools, low crime and a very envied and high quality of life.

[poodlecamper]

I've lived in this area for 55 years. The only people who make money off real estate in Bridgeport are those who invest in multiple family homes and live elsewhere. We sold our last home (in Naugatuck) to a Bridgeport family who were glad to live somewhere that they couldn't hear gunshots.

[jlhct]

I lived in Bridgeport all my life, but recently sold my house there as I am moving out west.

It is true, there are some rough areas, but you can find areas that are pretty nice and a bargain for your money. I lived on the Stratford border and the neighborhood was working class and pretty decent for the 12 or so years I lived in that house.

Parts of the North End of Bridgeport are pretty nice too. There is one section near the Trumbull Shopping Park mall that has lake property rights. I think some of the areas that border the neighboring towns such as the Brooklawn area (West on the Border of Fairfield), the North End (Which borders Trumbull to the North and the East End (try to stick to the northern part of the East end, near Boston Ave, etc) I know it may all sound confusing, but looking at a map will explain this a bit better.

I think the key is to look around if you are interested, do your research and look around some more.

If you need more info, let me know I'll be glad to provide any info I can.

[Stellaj]

I bought a Condo in the North End of Bridgeport a few years back. While I lived there for 8 months my car got broken into and my taxes went up. I quickly sold.

The schools are not the greatest and when you see you can get something in a much nicer town that has more to offer it doesnt make much sense to live there. The home prices can be appealing, but the taxes are so high it makes sense to get a higher mortgage amount than flush money down the toilet in taxes. You do not get what you pay for.

They are also the highest city in CT for murders by far. They have had 7 homicides in 2007 already.

You may want to look into Fairfield, Milford or Shelton.

[smichboyd]

Thanks for the info guys. You've save me some time.

[NezzaBlue]

I have lived in Bridgeport my whole life (I am 23), so I can tell you that the high schools are terrible. I graduated in 2001, and was lucky that I didn't get in a fight everyday. They just recently put up metal detectors in all of them. My car has been broken into 3 times. Mind you, I have only had a car since I was 18. A couple months ago my house was almost broken into, but he retracted after I came face to face with him screaming that someone was home and to go away. Oh yea and our mayor has a drug problem. He is very open about this, even far enough to have a press conference and broadcast it on the news.
So in my opinion, please do not consider Bridgeport as a choice unless you have alarms on your car and house, no children, and feel like carrying mase and pepper spray in your pocket. I have just had to do this, considering I could not walk my dog anymore. Try Fairfield, or Trumbull. They are nice.
A little more expensive but nice.

To be fair, Bridgeport was a beautiful place about 20 years ago. Unfortunately that is not the case anymore.

Good luck in your search, and I hoped that I could help with a different point of view.

[jlhct]

Originally Posted by NezzaBlue

I have lived in Bridgeport my whole life (I am 23), so I can tell you that the high schools are terrible. I graduated in 2001, and was lucky that I didn't get in a fight everyday. They just recently put up metal detectors in all of them. My car has been broken into 3 times. Mind you, I have only had a car since I was 18. A couple months ago my house was almost broken into, but he retracted after I came face to face with him screaming that someone was home and to go away. Oh yea and our mayor has a drug problem. He is very open about this, even far enough to have a press conference and broadcast it on the news.
So in my opinion, please do not consider Bridgeport as a choice unless you have alarms on your car and house, no children, and feel like carrying mase and pepper spray in your pocket. I have just had to do this, considering I could not walk my dog anymore. Try Fairfield, or Trumbull. They are nice.
A little more expensive but nice.

To be fair, Bridgeport was a beautiful place about 20 years ago. Unfortunately that is not the case anymore.

Good luck in your search, and I hoped that I could help with a different point of view.

I forgot about the Mayor blubbering on TV about his drug problem. A definite pitiful site!