[tinmd2000]

i will be starting work at the university of connecticut health center this june, and i am looking for a nice, quiet, safe neighborhood to live in, and not too far away from UConn/Hartford Hospital. i have been looking at the nearby cities surrounding Hartford, and cannot decide where to look for an apartment --West or East of Hartford? i have noticed, though, that areas west of hartford are more expensive. any ideas? i've looked at manchester, newington, bloomfield, west hartford, farmington, and wethersfield. thanks so much!

[yankee.peddler]

Since the UCONN Health Center calls Farmington home, I suggest you consider living west of the Connecticut River.

Under this suggestion, West Hartford and Farmington are the most expensive towns on your list. They are also closest to the Health Center. Next are Wethersfield and Newington, which lie a bit further to the south. Then comes Bloomfield, which is to the north of West Hartford. All are relatively convenient to Hartford Hospital.

While Bloomfield and West Hartford can be a little rough in certain areas that abut Hartford proper, all five towns are safe, convenient, and offer access to plenty of amenities. West Hartford arguably has the most active town center (literally down the road from the Health Center). While each town primarily consists of single-family homes, apartment complexes (and homes for rent) are peppered about. Without knowing your housing budget, I cannot steer you to a more specific area. Obviously, I recommend that you visit a property (if you can) before signing a lease!

Good Luck!

[uconn99]

Do you have children? If not I would look into downtown Hartford. There are a lot of new condos going in with rentals, the new Hartford 21 tower, Metropolitan lofts (ownership), 55 on the park, Trumbull on the Park, and Bushnell towers are just a few.



55 on the park-

http://www.apartments.com/summary.as...0.98&srt3=0.82

Park place towers-

http://www.apartments.com/summary.as...0.98&srt3=0.82

The lofts at Main

http://www.apartments.com/summary.as...0.98&srt3=0.82

Hartford 21-

http://www.apartments.com/summary.as...0.98&srt3=0.82

Union Place-

http://www.apartments.com/summary.as...0.98&srt3=0.82

Morgan at The Park-

http://www.apartments.com/summary.as...0.98&srt3=0.82

Trumbull on The Park-

http://www.apartments.com/summary.as...0.98&srt3=0.82

[amndamay]

Originally Posted by yankee.peddler

Since the UCONN Health Center calls Farmington home, I suggest you consider living west of the Connecticut River.

Under this suggestion, West Hartford and Farmington are the most expensive towns on your list. They are also closest to the Health Center. Next are Wethersfield and Newington, which lie a bit further to the south. Then comes Bloomfield, which is to the north of West Hartford. All are relatively convenient to Hartford Hospital.

While Bloomfield and West Hartford can be a little rough in certain areas that abut Hartford proper, all five towns are safe, convenient, and offer access to plenty of amenities. West Hartford arguably has the most active town center (literally down the road from the Health Center). While each town primarily consists of single-family homes, apartment complexes (and homes for rent) are peppered about. Without knowing your housing budget, I cannot steer you to a more specific area. Obviously, I recommend that you visit a property (if you can) before signing a lease!

Good Luck!

What I dont see mentioned here is New Britain. Parts of it can be scary, that is true, but there are some truly beautiful homes in quiet, safe neighborhoods in New Britain. It is most certainly the most affordable place to live in the area. My recommendation would be to look for privately owned multi family properties if you are looking to rent, and stay away from the downtown area. There are lots of 2 - 4 family homes near the college, which is a perfectly suitable area for the average person. And the rents are sometimes literally HALF of what you would pay for the same thing 5 miles down the road in Farmington or West Hartford. New Britain has extremely easy access to all the major highways and is literally minutes from UConn Health Center. Again, the only thing I would stay away from completely is the downtown area.

[tinmd2000]

Thank you so much for all your suggestions! I am married but without children. I am actually a foreigner who will be on an exchange visitor program, and I do hope you understand how all this seems a bit overwhelming for me ... moving to a foreign country, finding out how to get around, not to mention how to start a credit! I have heard a lot of discouraging things about Hartford, that is why I never considered living there. But if there are complexes that are safe, and are close to certain conveniences, I would be glad to check it out. You are right, Farmington and W. Hartford are expensive. I have a friend who I have been bullying around to visit the apartments for me, and she is a tremendous help since I cannot visit the areas myself. Saw some nice apartments online in Newington, Bloomfield, and Manchester. I'm willing to spend $1100 for the rent. Thanks so much for your inputs! I accidentally found this forum while researching the cities around Hartford. :-) Oh, and Happy Easter!

[JViello]

Originally Posted by tinmd2000

Thank you so much for all your suggestions! I am married but without children. I am actually a foreigner who will be on an exchange visitor program, and I do hope you understand how all this seems a bit overwhelming for me ... moving to a foreign country, finding out how to get around, not to mention how to start a credit! I have heard a lot of discouraging things about Hartford, that is why I never considered living there. But if there are complexes that are safe, and are close to certain conveniences, I would be glad to check it out. You are right, Farmington and W. Hartford are expensive. I have a friend who I have been bullying around to visit the apartments for me, and she is a tremendous help since I cannot visit the areas myself. Saw some nice apartments online in Newington, Bloomfield, and Manchester. I'm willing to spend $1100 for the rent. Thanks so much for your inputs! I accidentally found this forum while researching the cities around Hartford. :-) Oh, and Happy Easter!

Manchester does have some really nice modern apartments in that price range. But the commute to the UCONN center will be a bit tough as you will have to cross through downtown Hartford and there is rush hour traffic on that particular route.

If you don't mind living in an urban environment the choices UCONN99 listed are a good option too!

The West end of Hartford and West Hartford might be a bit more expensive but certainly nice.

Best of luck to you!

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by tinmd2000

Thank you so much for all your suggestions! I am married but without children. I am actually a foreigner who will be on an exchange visitor program, and I do hope you understand how all this seems a bit overwhelming for me ... moving to a foreign country, finding out how to get around, not to mention how to start a credit! I have heard a lot of discouraging things about Hartford, that is why I never considered living there. But if there are complexes that are safe, and are close to certain conveniences, I would be glad to check it out. You are right, Farmington and W. Hartford are expensive. I have a friend who I have been bullying around to visit the apartments for me, and she is a tremendous help since I cannot visit the areas myself. Saw some nice apartments online in Newington, Bloomfield, and Manchester. I'm willing to spend $1100 for the rent. Thanks so much for your inputs! I accidentally found this forum while researching the cities around Hartford. :-) Oh, and Happy Easter!

For convenience to UConn Medical Center, Newington would be best. It has good access to UConn via Route 9. Manchester would be very difficult. Manchester is east of Hartford which means you would have to travel through it to get to UConn and traffic can be a nightmare. Bloomfield would require traveling through the local streets in West Hartford which is not really that bad as long as you avoid West Hartford Center.

Another option you may consider is Middletown. It is located a little further south than Newington but has a lot of apartments in the West Lake area and is convenient to UConn via Route 9. Middletown is big and you wouldn't want to be south of downtown because traffic is very difficult near the bridge. Look online for apartments there off West Lake Drive. There are several complexes that are very nice. Good luck, Jay

[JViello]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Manchester would be very difficult. Manchester is east of Hartford which means you would have to travel through it to get to UConn and traffic can be a nightmare.

I make that drive every day of my life and would consider it far from a nightmare. Perhaps to someone who grew up around here it's a "nightmare" but hardly by most standards.

At worst I get hung up for a mile or two and 10 minutes through DT Hartford.

I do agree it adds traffic but nightmare is what you get in Charlotte or Atlanta trying to go anywhere during rush hour.

Other than that, Newington is also a good choice as you said.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by JViello

I make that drive every day of my life and would consider it far from a nightmare. Perhaps to someone who grew up around here it's a "nightmare" but hardly by most standards.

Good point and I should know this. My company did a study of the Bulkley Bridge (I-84 over the Connecticut River) years ago for ConnDOT. We brought in experts from CA who monitored traffic congestion on the bridge. They laughed when they were told that this was the worst traffic congestion in the greater Hartford area. For someone coming from larger cities, the commute through Hartford would be considered "mild". I guess my point is that I would not rent a place somewhere that is not close to work when there are places closer that are just as good. My commute is 1.5 miles door-to-door with no traffic signals. I guess I am really spoiled. Jay

[sun]

New Britain or the Bristol/Plainville area are your best bets for finding affordable housing and convenience to the UConn Health Center. The Farmington side of Bristol and Plainville on Route 6 or Route 10 are quite convenient. Southington is a possibility too. You really shouldn't need or want to travel more than 10 miles to get there, it only increases the costs and inconvenience of commuting.