[itscolduphere]

Just curious about Northwest Litchfield County and what mix of people inhabit this area (Sharon, Salisbury, Lakeville, New Canaan, etc.). Is this mostly a mix of year-rounders in homes upwards of $1.5 million, weekenders from New York in "cottages" upwards of $800k, or are there healthy doses of upper-middle class year-rounders who are able to maintain a "normal" lifestyle there without being/feeling excluded?

I'm confused because the feel seems to be extremely affluent, yet "average median" home costs/income date don't seem to match. (do they ever?)

[itscolduphere]

... sorry, New Canaan = Canaan and date = data.

[andthentherewere3]

First I just want to point out that "New Canaan" is in Fairfield County, you probably meant Canaan? Anyway, we do have family members that own a home in NW Litchfield County, purely as a vacation/weekend retreat. Their neighbors are mostly fellow NY'ers. However, I don't think the majority of residents there are weekenders from out of town, but there certainly is a large percentage that are. I would love to live up there year-round, it's probably my favorite area of Ct.

[KH02]

we used to live in a gated community up in NW hills and I'd say about 95% of the people around us were only using the places as summer homes. Most of them were from New York.
It was quiet in Sept-May when no one was around and to ME they were a bit snooty. I liked it when Sept came around and they were all gone...

[itscolduphere]

KH02, would this be Woodridge Lake in Goshen? (Woodbridge? Wood-something-or-other..) . We looked at a rental there prior to purchasing in the Farmington Valley, and it did seem mostly vacant; that was early autumn, as you said.

I am also under the impression (please correct me if I'm wrong) that "old money" is more accepted than "new money"... but if that is the case, is not "new money" less frowned upon if you are an artist/entrepreneur? I remember speaking to a local real estate agent in Colebrook a few years ago who said there were numerous artists/writers in the area.

[sheltie3]

It's not cold up here! You just are a bit too high in Litchfield County! So let me "Welcome you" to Southern Litchfield County! I'm in Roxbury. The towns around me are quaint welcoming and super convenient. We are a stones through from Danbury, which makes New York City very close. The winters here are very mild and the atmosphere is one that makes you feel as though you've stepped back in time. If you are looking for family atmosphere, it's wonderful here. If you made a Christmas Eve visit through our towns you would feel as though you were cast back a few centuries. No matter how far you travel through our little towns the candles burn bright lining the roads. The Christmas Song "Sleigh Ride" was written in Woodbury by composer/resident Leroy Anderson. A visit to Canfield Corner lets you see why Marilyn Monroe liked to visit there often(She lived here in Roxbury). It's quiet here, and a relaxing wonderful place to call home..

[JayCT]

I would check with the scool and see what they offer. Usually they will assist or offer suggestions for housing nearby. In addtion to West Hartford, you could check the West End of Hartford or even Bloomfield for rentals. Craigslist is a great source as well. good luck, Jay

[itscolduphere]

ALL of Litchfield County is lovely! We drove the "circuit" going south then up through Kent etc. ending up in Salisbury then eastward home to the Farmington Valley while we lived there. We're thinking ahead a bit on where to possibly retire, return to or summer home after a "recoup" in North Carolina. We do NOT want to purchase a home for another couple of years, after selling our home in the Valley in '07 just before the market plunder. So we are renting in NC because of the beautiful choice of rentals here...

We LOVE CT but no matter how we have sliced it we have never found a decent rental home for the budget. "To purchase" homes, they're fine, but rentals... *shakes head* you get a DUMP for your $. We have been through two moldy rentals now and will not rent again in CT. We have looked at many a sad offer that had flies, no central air, or no garage, etc. etc. and just got fed up and left. We work at home so fortunately this wasn't too much of a big deal to just "keep going" when we moved.

Roxbury came to mind, there was only one rental home available there, a cute white cape cod but our lousy agent didn't want to drive so far to show it to us ... (good 'ole CT hospitality!) I think when you get a Gem of a professional person there, you hang on tight for life! I may check out Elyse Harney or Joyce Drakeley, Klemm or someone else next time (she just had a write-up in the CT Mag I just got in the mail here...)

My only questions about Litchfield Co. remaining are: (if someone could be so helpful to address if not too much trouble).. Medical emergencies: where does one go? (I hope you don't drive all the way down to New Haven for a kidney stone in the middle of the night!) Also, shopping??? Do you go to Waterbury for things like the weekly "Target run", etc? We almost rented in Woodbury (till we spotted the leaky roof!!!)

PS I see up there, Sheltie3 that you've "been edited"... are you one of the abovementioned agencies?

[itscolduphere]

Thanks JayCT, we are bound by lease here in NC for at least the year, and having been through most of CT we would like to stay West of Hartford, probably outside of Hartford County next time (West Hartford itself too urban), and out in the country i.e. Litchfield Co. possibly parts of Fairfield Co. that offer a truly quiet living experience (suitable for a "writer's retreat" lifestyle). Appreciate your comments/help however... more help than my agent was for 3 years in the Valley!

[usmcfamily]

Originally Posted by itscolduphere

KH02, would this be Woodridge Lake in Goshen? (Woodbridge? Wood-something-or-other..) . We looked at a rental there prior to purchasing in the Farmington Valley, and it did seem mostly vacant; that was early autumn, as you said.

I am also under the impression (please correct me if I'm wrong) that "old money" is more accepted than "new money"... but if that is the case, is not "new money" less frowned upon if you are an artist/entrepreneur? I remember speaking to a local real estate agent in Colebrook a few years ago who said there were numerous artists/writers in the area.

Whats with all this talk about money? Really, Ct people are reserved by nature and feel talking about money is tacky. Who cares if its "old money" or "new money"? Or any money at all. If you like the place and the town, go for it. I wouldn't worry about how much money people have and how they got it.