[Gregory P]

Where are the nice, FUN, middle class towns (for a family) from the RI border towards Hartford?

Things to do...restaurants. Music. Parks. People. Coffee shops (I don't mean Dunkin Donuts)

We live in the northeast corner. It's too dead for a young family. (And pretty much a fair amount of uneducated people who wear their pajamas when they go out).

Not to be a jerk.

I guess I'm wondering...do you have to be rich to live comfortably in a good area in CT (or all of New England, for that matter)?

Thanks for the advice/opinions.

[KH02]

How much can you spend??
West Hartford is great for shops and restaurants even within walking distance. Seems it would have a lot of what you're looking for. I would recommend it. For something with 3 bedrooms you'd prolly have to spend at least 200K especially if you want something within walking distance of all that.

[njohnson]

West Hartford probably will be your best bet. It just has the most to do, is in proximity of everything in that area, lots of shopping, is close to great parks such as Elizabeth Park, and is a fairly safe town.

I did some searching for homes there for a short while and for a 3BR 2.5BA house in a nice area I'd say you are looking at $300-400K minimum. Be warned that the taxes are steep.

[wavehunter007]

Originally Posted by Gregory P

Where are the nice, FUN, middle class towns (for a family) from the RI border towards Hartford?

Things to do...restaurants. Music. Parks. People. Coffee shops (I don't mean Dunkin Donuts)

We live in the northeast corner. It's too dead for a young family. (And pretty much a fair amount of uneducated people who wear their pajamas when they go out).

Not to be a jerk.

I guess I'm wondering...do you have to be rich to live comfortably in a good area in CT (or all of New England, for that matter)?

Thanks for the advice/opinions.

Connecticut and the cities and towns within it…are grouped much like the rest of the metropolitan Eastern Seaboard: the accessible, urban, and heavily populated areas, tend to have the nicer suburbs, more shopping, and a wider range of activities. While the isolated and more rural areas tend to have less of the above, and can be more economically depressed.

As someone who makes a living mapping natural/social data …I can tell you that unfortunately northeastern and especially east-central Connecticut, is one of the poorest and most economically depressed regions in the greater NY/NJ/CT area (considering this is a huge, affluent region). Also, while not as bad as urban areas like Hartford, New Haven, NYC…there is a rather high incidince of crime and serious drug issues in the towns in eastern Connecticut north of New London (along I-395). This has always been somewhat of a mystery... as to why this region of Connecticut has always had the most social problems and is still the most economically depressed. Some people think that the lack of larger cities (Hartford, Stamford, New Haven), and few economic opportunities is part of the reason.

Based on what you’re looking for, I would say the eastern suburbs of Hartford is the best bet. It offers the best job opportunties and access. As a funky alternative: the Mystic area is one of the most fun places in a rather dull state. In and around Mystic (East Lyme, Old Lyme, Waterford, Groton somewhat) there are many restaurants, sea food shacks, book shops, bars, historic sights, parks, the open-ocean beaches in Rhode Island are close, the casinos are both very close with some night-life, there are several ferries to Long Island, NY, even a cruise ship may be coming soon. Many kids in this part of Connecticut are into boating, fishing, and swimming/diving. Also, if you hate snow…this area gets the least amount of snow in CT and has the longest gardening season (lol).

No matter where you look, the real estate market is the worst it’s been in 60 years…I would think you would be able to find a good deal on a house these days.

[Gregory P]

Originally Posted by wavehunter007

Connecticut and the cities and towns within it…are grouped much like the rest of the metropolitan Eastern Seaboard: the accessible, urban, and heavily populated areas, tend to have the nicer suburbs, more shopping, and a wider range of activities. While the isolated and more rural areas tend to have less of the above, and can be more economically depressed.

As someone who makes a living mapping natural/social data …I can tell you that unfortunately northeastern and especially east-central Connecticut, is one of the poorest and most economically depressed regions in the greater NY/NJ/CT area (considering this is a huge, affluent region). Also, while not as bad as urban areas like Hartford, New Haven, NYC…there is a rather high incidince of crime and serious drug issues in the towns in eastern Connecticut north of New London (along I-395). This has always been somewhat of a mystery... as to why this region of Connecticut has always had the most social problems and is still the most economically depressed. Some people think that the lack of larger cities (Hartford, Stamford, New Haven), and few economic opportunities is part of the reason.

Based on what you’re looking for, I would say the eastern suburbs of Hartford is the best bet. It offers the best job opportunties and access. As a funky alternative: the Mystic area is one of the most fun places in a rather dull state. In and around Mystic (East Lyme, Old Lyme, Waterford, Groton somewhat) there are many restaurants, sea food shacks, book shops, bars, historic sights, parks, the open-ocean beaches in Rhode Island are close, the casinos are both very close with some night-life, there are several ferries to Long Island, NY, even a cruise ship may be coming soon. Many kids in this part of Connecticut are into boating, fishing, and swimming/diving. Also, if you hate snow…this area gets the least amount of snow in CT and has the longest gardening season (lol).

No matter where you look, the real estate market is the worst it’s been in 60 years…I would think you would be able to find a good deal on a house these days.

That's some interesting stuff. To be honest, we're not 100 percent sure we're going to stay in the northeast because of the reasons you mentioned above. I wish we could mix the good and bad of both.

A friend of mine who lives in New York city used the word "rusty" when talking about the northeastern states. And this is coming from someone who loves the historical aspect of our region.

But it is concerning that this area is going to go down a little harder than some of the more newly developed regions (where the populations increase vs decrease) and possibly take longer to come back.

Where we are now is as economically depressed as it can get. Although even before the recession it kind of seemed that way.

Hey thanks for your input. (We're not buying right now no matter what we do. We sold our home a year and a half ago and moved back here into a rental. It's kind of nice not having a money pit of our own).

I'm going to look at the Mystic areas you mentioned though :-)

[Gregory P]

Originally Posted by njohnson

West Hartford probably will be your best bet. It just has the most to do, is in proximity of everything in that area, lots of shopping, is close to great parks such as Elizabeth Park, and is a fairly safe town.

I did some searching for homes there for a short while and for a 3BR 2.5BA house in a nice area I'd say you are looking at $300-400K minimum. Be warned that the taxes are steep.

I like West Hartford a lot. I'd like an area just like it..but I am self employed and do okay. Just not enough to make it there when you combine housing, taxes, and CT utility costs.

Yikes. I might be out of luck.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Gregory P

But it is concerning that this area is going to go down a little harder than some of the more newly developed regions (where the populations increase vs decrease) and possibly take longer to come back.

Where we are now is as economically depressed as it can get. Although even before the recession it kind of seemed that way.

Northeastern Connecticut is not called "The Quiet Corner" for nothing. The area does not have the large scale development and economy that other parts of the state have. You call it "depressed" but I think it is more like just slow.

As for your comments on the northeast, historically it has not had the wide swings in the economy that other regions have seen. There are no mass foreclosures like in the South or West. It just sort of chugs along. Some say that is not good, but as they say "Slow and steady win the race". Jay

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Northeastern Connecticut is not called "The Quiet Corner" for nothing. The area does not have the large scale development and economy that other parts of the state have. You call it "depressed" but I think it is more like just slow.

As for your comments on the northeast, historically it has not had the wide swings in the economy that other regions have seen. There are no mass foreclosures like in the South or West. It just sort of chugs along. Some say that is not good, but as they say "Slow and steady win the race". Jay

This is the economy in the South. Thankfully I haven't seen anything like this in CT.

[brasscitybluenwhite]

kid, we must truly differ when it comes to our opinions of the south, because when I was down there on christmas, I felt like it was booming. Anyways, you really have to narrow down wut ur lookin for when it comes down to. Have u tried Vernon?

I don't love the Connecticut that everybody knows, I love the Connecticut that everybody hates. I grew up in the innercity with a bunch of creative kids who knew how to find make a good time. Believe it or not, I have been up and down the eastern seaboard and I still cant find a city thats better than my hometown. So for now, I plan on moving back home after I graduate. I want to buy a house not far from the neighborhood I grew up in. Who cares about what other ppl think about it?

Thats how u gotta be in CT.. Have ur own party and dont wait for it to come to u.

[JayCT]

People tend to equate new with better and old with depressing. That is why the south and west get sooo much publicity. It is newer so it must be better, right? Just because an area is old, does not mean it is bad. Jay