[Dallascaper]

Hello,

I am considering a job with my current employer that will require me to transfer from Dallas to Stratford. I am a guy, single, and Dallas is as close to the North Pole as I have ever lived. The job pays about $90K+bonus, and I have no debt other than my house, which I will either sell or rent. I enjoy golf, photography, working out and travel. I have read the statistical data on Stratford, but have no idea what the area is really like.

Things I like:
I will be able to reconnect with long-lost family in the New England area.
The job is a good launching position for other opportunities within the company.
I enjoy new experiences, and generally fit in well with new surroundings.
NYC, Boston and New England are all right there.

Concerns:
I have reason to believe your winters are somewhat colder and longer than I am used to. Maybe global warming will ease my transition.
One of my peers told me that if I go to Stratford single, I will stay single. He may have been joking.
The cost-of-living is significantly higher compared to Texas - my income will not go far and I might have to settle for a smaller home than I currently enjoy.

Is the Stratford area a good place to live? Will I live like a pauper on my income? Are the winters really that bad?

I could find another job in Dallas that pays what I would be making in CT, but New England to me might as well be Mars – I find the experience intriguing. I am planning a photography trip to NYC in early June; I might forget Manhattan and check out Stratford instead. Is there anything that I should be looking for while I am there?

I am interested in your thoughts.
Thanks.

[Rich Lee]

Stratford is one of cheaper towns in Fairfield County. The median sales price for the first quarter of 2009 is $246,952.

The current inventory of single-family properties in Stratford is 312 broken down as follows:

5 - Under $100,000
23- Between $100,000 - $149,999
31- Between $150,000 - $199,999
46- Between $200,000 - $249,999
67- Between $250,000 - $299,999
42- Between $300,000 - $349,999
29- Between $350,000 - $399,999
16- Between $400,000 - $449,999
14- Between $450,000 - $499,999
9 - Between $500,000 - $549,999
12- Between $550,000 - $599,999
3 - Between $600,000 - $649,999
5 - Between $650,000 - $699,999
1 - Between $700,000 - $749,999
6 - Between $750,000 - $999,999
3 - Over $1,000,000

Median list price => $290,000

Source: GFC CMLS on 05/07/2009

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by Dallascaper

Hello,

I am considering a job with my current employer that will require me to transfer from Dallas to Stratford.
Concerns:
I have reason to believe your winters are somewhat colder and longer than I am used to. Maybe global warming will ease my transition.

Coastal CT has a milder winter than interior CT. We do get snow though, and single-digit temps do occur ~7 nights each winter.

Originally Posted by Dallascaper

One of my peers told me that if I go to Stratford single, I will stay single. He may have been joking.

Stratford did and may still, have the highest % of residents over 65 in the state. That said, it isn't really relevant because in CT, towns/suburbs are overwhelmingly family territory(i.e.: Husband/Wife/2.4 Kids/Dog/Etc.). So finding available singles is easier in city environments.

Originally Posted by Dallascaper

Is the Stratford area a good place to live? Will I live like a pauper on my income?

Stratford is really the last remaining town in Fairfield County that isn't overwhelmingly "white-collar". There's a significant contingent of retirees and "blue-collars" that help to keep the town a little more affordable. You wouldn't live like a pauper on your salary. In this town, your income would be above the middle-class average.

Originally Posted by Dallascaper

I could find another job in Dallas that pays what I would be making in CT
I am interested in your thoughts.
Thanks.

Tough call on that one. I'd have to think you'll live better in Dallas than you would in CT.

[marcin1786]

Well Stratford itself is sort of dead for singles, how old are you? If you are younger (20's) there are many places to meet people in surrouding towns such as Milford, New Haven, Norwalk, Stamford, and of course NYC. Its a fairly boring place to live, but pretty afforable compared to the rest of fairfield county.

I would also suggest looking into Milford

[marcin1786]

Actually a smart idea would be to rent a place around here for a year or 2 to really get a feel for it. This way it would be less of a hassle to move back to Texas if things weren't what you had hoped for.

Ive never been to Texas, but I have trouble thinking you would prefer CT to Dallas

[Dallascaper]

The job is in Stratford, but I will consider nearby areas for housing. I did notice that the Statford housing stock in my price range (around 250K) is quite old, and the area does seem rather quiet. The suggestion that I rent at first I think is a good one - if I don't adjust to the area I can always request a transfer after two years. Thanks for the information, everyone.

[stevehawk]

I would also suggest Milford over Stratford. There are some really run down sketchy areas in Stratford. The best areas of Stratford are closer to the merit Parkway or along the beach. Milford has so much more to offer. There is actually a pretty good singles nightlife in little downtown Milford. I think it's a much safer town overall as well. And the real mightlife is in New Haven which is only 10 minutes from Milford. Milford has better and bigger beaches as well.

[JayCT]

With the money you are making, a single person could live well here. You might want to consider New Haven which is a small city that has a lively nightlife. Note that this area is older so there are a lot of older buildings. Just because it is old does not mean it is no good. Jay

[shoehoard]

I moved from FL to West Haven (not far from Stratford). I also lived in Dallas when I was younger so hopefully I can share some useful info with you. Been in CT a year now. When I first moved up here I loved it. It's very pretty up here. I moved in the spring. Just been through my first winter. I've never lived in snow before. When I was in Dallas I remember flurries and ice but nothing major. At first the snow in CT was fun and exciting. But by Feb. I was over it. And when the last storm hit NY and CT on March 2, I was really over it. Then came the spring rain in April and May has been pretty rainy too. What I didn't care for is how gloomy and dark it was with the time change in the winter. It was getting dark at 4pm. Some days were sunny but only until 4 - 4:30. It was hard to adjust to the extra time it takes to get out of the house to run errands. So that's my take on the weather and my experience this year.

So spring is here, the weather is warming up now. Today is beautiful and the trees are all in bloom. I garden in my backyard and that is a nice change from what I did in FL (not garden). The taxes up here on homes are twice what they are in FL. I have a 1200 sq ft house 4 blocks from LI Sound and pay $5K in taxes each year.

Here's the real kicker for me. In FL I was used to having every restaurant at my disposal. Malls were near and beaches were close. I remember having an abundant choice in Dallas, too. Either I haven't found the right places or there just aren't that many options up here. For instance, I went to NJ this weekend just so I could get a little FL fix on restaurants. I went to Bahama Breeze, Chick-Fil-A, and Total Wine. There is no Chick-Fil-A in CT, one Carabba's, one Cheesecake Factory (in Hartford), no Macaroni Grills, no Maggiano's Little Italy, no Bonefish Grill, no Buca di Pepo, etc. Again, I've only been up here a year and I'm looking forward to trying new restaurants, but I was used to having all of this in FL and didn't realize I couldn't get it up here.

Liquor laws were an adjustment too. Only beer is sold in grocery stores and only until 9pm M-S. No alcohol sold on Sunday anywhere. Wine and hard liquor can only be purchased from a package store. In FL, I could buy wine and beer in the grocery stores. Luckily, you aren't ever too far away from a package store.

I still like CT despite some adjustments. I love that I'm not baking right now in 94 degree heat and humidity in Tampa. It's sunny and in the 60s here today. Summer is fantastic up here. I love that I can be in NY on the train in 1.5 hrs. We're going to Boston for Memorial Day weekend. This past weekend I went to Jersey in 1.5 hours. I can get to so many other destinations in under 2-3 hours. I have a feeling I'll return to the south (probably Texas) :-) in a few years as I'm a southern girl by heart. But for now, I'll enjoy this beautiful state.
Good luck.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by shoehoard

There is no Macaroni Grills, no Maggiano's Little Italy, no Bonefish Grill, no Buca di Pepo, etc. Again, I've only been up here a year and I'm looking forward to trying new restaurants, but I was used to having all of this in FL and didn't realize I couldn't get it up here.

You probably never will get them up here. Save for an occasional Olive Garden here and there, you're not going to find any "italian" franchise restaurants. Even non-Italian natives in this area understand and appreciate what authentic Italian food tastes like. The Italian cuisine gem of the state, New Haven, is right next door to you! Go explore it! Buon Appetito.