[metaljaybird]

Hello fellow CT natives,

I'm a former resident, with most of my family still residing in North-Central CT. While I don't live terribly far, I rarely have chance to venture beyond the NY border.

I've read a lot of great things about Stamford, but have never visited the city itself. That being stated, I was wondering what your favorite city was in CT, and why.

I'm most familiar with Hartford, as this was the closest city to me (except Springfield, but I won't count that). Hartford always had a problem with poverty and crime, and I'm not sure that's really changed to this day.

So, for arts, culture, family, whatever floats your boat, what is the gem of CT?

[J double R]

I enjoyed living in the small community of Gales Ferry/Ledyard.. very tight knit, and accepting to newcomers. Located centrally enough that nothing was too far away.

[Rich Lee]

To the OP, are you looking for true cities (Hartford, New Haven, Waterbury, Stamford, etc.) or cities/towns/hamlets?

[jjbradleynyc]

I'd have to say if you take crime out of the question, New Haven would be #1, hands-down. New Haven feels like a much bigger city--with the bars, excellent options of food, museums, arts, and nightlife in general. But, the city has few good neighborhoods that are safe (just 2 come to mind, really--East Rock/Westville).
Hartford has a lot of culture, but is too dead after 6pm to really be in the running, although it is the capital of the state. Plus the crime in Hartford is just embarrassing for a state capital.
Stamford would be the ideal choice, but it doesn't have the action of New Haven, or the cultural attractions as does Hartford. Stamford is by far the safest large city in CT--one of the safest in the US for its size.
So, my pick would be New Haven--just a a bit too much crime here.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by jjbradleynyc

I'd have to say if you take crime out of the question, New Haven would be #1, hands-down. New Haven feels like a much bigger city--with the bars, excellent options of food, museums, arts, and nightlife in general. But, the city has few good neighborhoods that are safe (just 2 come to mind, really--East Rock/Westville).
Hartford has a lot of culture, but is too dead after 6pm to really be in the running, although it is the capital of the state. Plus the crime in Hartford is just embarrassing for a state capital.
Stamford would be the ideal choice, but it doesn't have the action of New Haven, or the cultural attractions as does Hartford. Stamford is by far the safest large city in CT--one of the safest in the US for its size.
So, my pick would be New Haven--just a a bit too much crime here.

Great post, and I agree.

[nhctguy]

Originally Posted by jjbradleynyc

I'd have to say if you take crime out of the question, New Haven would be #1, hands-down. New Haven feels like a much bigger city--with the bars, excellent options of food, museums, arts, and nightlife in general. But, the city has few good neighborhoods that are safe (just 2 come to mind, really--East Rock/Westville).
Hartford has a lot of culture, but is too dead after 6pm to really be in the running, although it is the capital of the state. Plus the crime in Hartford is just embarrassing for a state capital.
Stamford would be the ideal choice, but it doesn't have the action of New Haven, or the cultural attractions as does Hartford. Stamford is by far the safest large city in CT--one of the safest in the US for its size.
So, my pick would be New Haven--just a a bit too much crime here.

I agree completely. Stamford would definitely be the safest though New Haven offers more an urban vibe that you can't find elsewhere in CT.

[brasscitybluenwhite]

Originally Posted by jjbradleynyc

Hartford has a lot of culture, but is too dead after 6pm to really be in the running, although it is the capital of the state. Plus the crime in Hartford is just embarrassing for a state capital.

I'm not picking of you, but I've been to alot of capitals and the locals dont find the crime embarrassing. To list some: Boston, Harrisburg, Richmond, sorta Raleigh, ATLANTA (which was the crime capital of the country a few years back) Columbia.

Connecticut ppl have this weird idea that since connecticut is suburban in nature, that the capital should be the same. Thats not necessarily true.


To raise a family, I think the best city would be Bristol. I love the diversity there.

But my all-time favorite city is my hometown, Waterbury. It has 100,000+ people and u never lose the feeling that everyone knows each other. Waterbury neighborhoods (to me) are more diverse then any other city in the state. There are huge jewish neighborhoods (Overlook, Kingsbury) and Greek neighborhood (town plot), Spanish neighborhoods, italian neighborhoods, etc. Its the safest of the original 4 largest cities (bpt, nh, hartford, waterbury).

Unfortunately, as the city gets smaller and smaller, it loses its investments. Waterbury would be way better if it shifted its downtown to the west around the new train station (if they ever build the new train station.) it would be alot better if it zoned the board of alderman (like new haven does) and if more people got involved with politics (biggest problem)

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by brasscitybluenwhite

Connecticut ppl have this weird idea that since connecticut is suburban in nature, that the capital should be the same. Thats not necessarily true.

I haven't met anyone who wanted to turn Hartford into a suburb. Most people want it to recover and be a place with an average crime rate for a city its size.

[jjbradleynyc]

Originally Posted by brasscitybluenwhite

I'm not picking of you, but I've been to alot of capitals and the locals dont find the crime embarrassing. To list some: Boston, Harrisburg, Richmond, sorta Raleigh, ATLANTA (which was the crime capital of the country a few years back) Columbia.

Connecticut ppl have this weird idea that since connecticut is suburban in nature, that the capital should be the same. Thats not necessarily true.


To raise a family, I think the best city would be Bristol. I love the diversity there.

But my all-time favorite city is my hometown, Waterbury. It has 100,000+ people and u never lose the feeling that everyone knows each other. Waterbury neighborhoods (to me) are more diverse then any other city in the state. There are huge jewish neighborhoods (Overlook, Kingsbury) and Greek neighborhood (town plot), Spanish neighborhoods, italian neighborhoods, etc. Its the safest of the original 4 largest cities (bpt, nh, hartford, waterbury).

Unfortunately, as the city gets smaller and smaller, it loses its investments. Waterbury would be way better if it shifted its downtown to the west around the new train station (if they ever build the new train station.) it would be alot better if it zoned the board of alderman (like new haven does) and if more people got involved with politics (biggest problem)

Well, crime is crime, embarrassed or not, and any city with a crime problem should strive to correct it. I wouldn't classify CT overall as "suburban." A few of the "bigger cities" contain a few suburbs, but most of CT is full of small towns/villages with that New England charm. Fairfield County has suburbs of NYC, sure, but the Fairfield County cities are unlike stereotypical cookie-cutter suburbs of most metropolitan areas--think Phoenix, Atlanta, Dallas, etc.
I've only driven through Waterbury. I know nothing about it, except it once was more thriving and vibrant than it is today. I'll have to check it out sometime.

[Jpierpont]

Originally Posted by jjbradleynyc

Well, crime is crime, embarrassed or not, and any city with a crime problem should strive to correct it. I wouldn't classify CT overall as "suburban." A few of the "bigger cities" contain a few suburbs, but most of CT is full of small towns/villages with that New England charm. Fairfield County has suburbs of NYC, sure, but the Fairfield County cities are unlike stereotypical cookie-cutter suburbs of most metropolitan areas--think Phoenix, Atlanta, Dallas, etc.
I've only driven through Waterbury. I know nothing about it, except it once was more thriving and vibrant than it is today. I'll have to check it out sometime.

Where are all these charming villages?