[Chickendoc]

I am moving to CT from New Hampshire - needless to say Ct is much more expensive than quiet NH.
Looking at Monroe or Oxford and they seem fairly similar other than Monroe has higher taxes and maybe a bit more convenience.
All the houses are well/septic that I am considering. It seems that home prices are a bit lower in Monroe and this concerns me for long term investment...why is it so much less what is the dark secret of Monroe?
Appreciate any thoughts/comments...

[andthentherewere3]

I'm not sure why you are finding home values to be lower in Monroe, because they have generally higher in Monroe than in Oxford. I'm not sure this is going to be a long-term trend if Monroe is a little cheaper right now, it's probably a result of the current market. About 1/3 of the homes in Monroe do have city water, if well water is a concern of yours. Homes in either town would be a good long-term investment; they both have good schools with a lot of families. I'm not sure about recreational activities in Oxford, but Monroe has a lot of activities to choose from including two large several hundred acre parks that offer hiking, camping, fishing, boating, swimming at the lake or pool, playgrounds, tennis, basketball, character dinners, etc. etc. The town recreation dept. offers various camps, sports, and lessons, too. We also have the Monroe/Trumbull YMCA which offers many activities, and the high school has an indoor pool open to the public. In addition there are businesses in town that offer gymnastics/art classes etc. to children and families.

These links give specifics on the the two towns. Good luck and welcome to Connecticut!

http://www.city-data.com/city/Oxford-Connecticut.html
http://www.city-data.com/city/Monroe-Connecticut.html

[Seattle's Best 28]

I like Oxford a little better. It seems a little more upscale and prettier in parts but Monroe has easier access to malls and shopping. I think the access makes Monroe more pricey but Oxford has a land zoning minimum which makes houses higher priced.

[andthentherewere3]

Originally Posted by Seattle's Best 28

II think the access makes Monroe more pricey but Oxford has a land zoning minimum which makes houses higher priced.

Monroe does of course have a land zoning minimum, it's generally a minimum of one acre. Oxford has a higher mimimum of 1.5 acres, I believe. I agree that Oxford's rural character is very appealing, hopefully they will not continue to develop land the way towns in Fairfield County have been doing, including Monroe. In recent years there have been many new housing developments in Oxford, too. That is a problem, people like the rural character of a town, but everyone rushes in and builds homes, and before you know it, it is no longer rural.

[usmcfamily]

Originally Posted by Chickendoc

I am moving to CT from New Hampshire - needless to say Ct is much more expensive than quiet NH.
Looking at Monroe or Oxford and they seem fairly similar other than Monroe has higher taxes and maybe a bit more convenience.
All the houses are well/septic that I am considering. It seems that home prices are a bit lower in Monroe and this concerns me for long term investment...why is it so much less what is the dark secret of Monroe?
Appreciate any thoughts/comments...

Hi! I moved to Monroe about 1 1/2 years ago. We also looked at Oxford. At that time, we found our money for a house to go much further in Oxford. For the price we paid here in Monroe for a 30 year old fixer upper, we could have bought a brand new home in Oxford. Comparing the 2 towns though is like comparing apples and oranges. While Oxford is beautiful, it is very rural. Much more so than Monroe( rural that is).

Monroe was a perfect fit for my family. We love the outdoor parks and recreation (Wolfe Park is a gem), schools, close proximity to shopping and the mix of people in the town! It is a very friendly and welcoming town - no dark secret that I am aware of!

Good luck, you can't go wrong in either town.

Adding: we have septic/city water.

[aroundthecorner059]

Both towns are beautiful. We moved to Oxford from Atlanta last year. If you're looking for a quiet New England town with beautiful farms, woods and great schools and no chains, Oxford is wonderful. Monroe is beautiful and also has great schools, but we prefer more rural than strip malls (which Monroe has on Route 25 but residential areas in Monroe are rural and pretty). Oxford residents must travel 10 minutes out of town for shopping needs.

There is not much of a price difference. In some cases Monroe is more, in others Oxford is higher. It depends what you are looking for.

There is a nice home for sale down the street from me (4 br in a nice section of town). Message me for more info.

[Chickendoc]

Thanks for all the info - it is great to hear such good things about both towns.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Chickendoc

Thanks for all the info - it is great to hear such good things about both towns.

Hi chickendoc.

I agree that both towns are excellent places to live. Monroe is a little more suburban, Oxford a little more rural (but growing rapidly). Both have excellent schools and friendly people. Monroe will probably be a little more expensive because it is part of Fairfield County and a little closer to the Merritt Parkway. As others have noted, Monroe has plenty of shopping on Route 25 whereas in Oxford, you would have to do your shopping in Seymour or Southbury (both 10-15 minutes drive).

If you do choose Oxford (or even if you choose Monroe), be sure to visit Rich Farm Ice Cream on Route 67. Great mocha almond fudge.

You really can't go wrong in either town.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by andthentherewere3

Monroe does of course have a land zoning minimum, it's generally a minimum of one acre. Oxford has a higher mimimum of 1.5 acres, I believe. I agree that Oxford's rural character is very appealing, hopefully they will not continue to develop land the way towns in Fairfield County have been doing, including Monroe. In recent years there have been many new housing developments in Oxford, too. That is a problem, people like the rural character of a town, but everyone rushes in and builds homes, and before you know it, it is no longer rural.

I agree with you. Oxford is turning suburban with all of the new homes being built - I do like how they are very picky with what type of businesses that come in. I understand they were to build a "village" in the center of town a few years ago but residents didn't want it when plans changed to include a Borders and a few other chains. As in most small New England towns, the town listened to the people.

I think Monroe has done an excellent job as well in regards to keeping the businesses and shopping in one section of town, and maintaining the rural character. There aren't many houses too close to any stores.