[Lexismommy]

While we love the beach, it is not a complete necessity for us. All of our family will still be in LI, so we would probably be spending most of our summer weekends on LI beaches. I know our $$ is wide, maybe I can describe what we are looking for in terms of house instead. We would prefer a colonial, 3-4 bedrooms, at least 2 bathrooms. A nice big backyard so we could have a swingset for our kids and hold summer parties. Something with a walkable downtown would be nice. I love to put the kids in the stroller and walk into town on nice days. Nice parks, a town green, alot of young families. I belong to a MOMS club here on LI, and I would like something similar...so a town with lots of couples with children would be a huge plus.
I have to say, we did drive up to CT on Saturday, and fell in LOVE with Guilford and Madison. I just wanted to know what else might be out there.

[7 Wishes]

While I honestly think in your situation you are wasting $$$ living in Fairfield County (though it sounds like you certainly can afford it), I can see it if you're going to drive to LI often as you'll be a little closer (though there are ferries like the Bridgeport-Pt. Jeff ferry). Also, in Fairfield County you'll have a little more of your old home than in New Haven County (i.e. NYC TV stations, etc.) if that's at all important to you (though in New Haven County you'd just as easily get Long Island radio stations as in Fairfield). Good luck!

[usmcfamily]

With your price range, you really have the pick of some gorgeous towns! You will really have to spend time in each to know which is right for you. Madison is one of my favorite towns. Clinton and Guilford are nice as well. Orange would be another town to consider. The beach is close by, schools are good, commute would be very easy, and you could get a gorgeous house in your price range.

I also think you would want to include Fairfield and Westport on your list if you will be travelling routinely to LI. You would definately need to buy at the top end of your price range for Westport. Fairfield has a variety of housing prices. Both are great towns to raise a family in.

[StarlaJane]

Originally Posted by Lexismommy

While we love the beach, it is not a complete necessity for us. All of our family will still be in LI, so we would probably be spending most of our summer weekends on LI beaches. I know our $$ is wide, maybe I can describe what we are looking for in terms of house instead. We would prefer a colonial, 3-4 bedrooms, at least 2 bathrooms. A nice big backyard so we could have a swingset for our kids and hold summer parties. Something with a walkable downtown would be nice. I love to put the kids in the stroller and walk into town on nice days. Nice parks, a town green, alot of young families. I belong to a MOMS club here on LI, and I would like something similar...so a town with lots of couples with children would be a huge plus.
I have to say, we did drive up to CT on Saturday, and fell in LOVE with Guilford and Madison. I just wanted to know what else might be out there.

If I had that kind of budget, I would buy in Guilford in a NY minute Guilford has an excellent public school system and is a great place to raise a family.
You might also try the East Rock neighborhood of New Haven. It is not as affluent as LI, and there are some sketchy neighborhoods bordering it, but you would be very close to downtown New Haven (which is very walkable; in fact, it is the only "walking" city that I have ever lived in, and its walkability is one of its best features.) Moreover, it is a very family-friendly, progressive area (and East Rock Park would be your backyard!), and [private schools] the Foote School and Hopkins are very close by.

[usmcfamily]

Lexismommy, I am also getting ready to relocate with my family. I am not too familiar with most of the towns listed but I have explored Westport and Fairfield. I love Westport. It has everything you could want in a town. Very nice dowtown area overlooking a river. Fairfield was great too.

[john_starks]

Woodbridge, Orange or Branford.

[JayCT]

I agree with what others have said. If you want to be as close to New Haven as possible and minimize your husband's commute, then consider Woodbridge and Orange. If you want to be closer to New York and don't mind paying more for a lesser home, consider Westport or Fairfield. If your husband doesn't mind a short commute (30 to 45 minutes) and you want a really great place to live, then definitely consider Guilford and Madison. Good luck, Jay

[7 Wishes]

Originally Posted by StarlaJane

If I had that kind of budget, I would buy in Guilford in a NY minute Guilford has an excellent public school system and is a great place to raise a family.
You might also try the East Rock neighborhood of New Haven. It is not as affluent as LI, and there are some sketchy neighborhoods bordering it, but you would be very close to downtown New Haven (which is very walkable; in fact, it is the only "walking" city that I have ever lived in, and its walkability is one of its best features.) Moreover, it is a very family-friendly, progressive area (and East Rock Park would be your backyard!), and [private schools] the Foote School and Hopkins are very close by.

You make a good point no one has noted. Politics are not the be all and end all of where you live, but with some of these towns your political/social views may make you more or less comfortable.

I'm not a super-expert on this area, but I know that East Rock of New Haven and Westport are very socially/politically liberal (in Westport's case it's because a lot of Hollywood/TV stars have homes there, in East Rock it's that a lot of people are Yale grad students (and sometimes professors) who have kids), whereas some of the wealthier towns of Fairfield County (though mostly towns way to the west of New Haven like Greenwich and more so New Canaan) are quite conservative for this region (lots of "old money" and many conservative Wall Streeters.....also I believe Anne Coulter is originally from New Canaan).

From what I know (and again others can probably answer better than I), the other towns fall somewhere in-between, maybe even a mix of both. CT as a state is more liberal than conservative, but I also read somewhere it has one of the highest percentage of registered independents of any state.

[Connecticut Pam]

Originally Posted by Lexismommy

Hi there,
My husband will be starting a new job at Yale-New Haven this fall, which means we have to leave our Long Island home. We are a young couple, I am irish, my husband is italian. We have two daughters, ages 2 yrs and 3 months. We are looking for a nice, upper middle to upper class neighborhood with great schools, family friendly, decent commute to New Haven, and houses in our price range of $700,000-1.5 million. How are the following neighborhoods? Excuse the amount, we know NOTHING about CT!
Milford
Orange
Ansonia
East Haven
West Haven
North Haven
Hamden
Branford
North Branford
Guilford
Madison
Clinton
Westbrook
Killingworth
Woodbridge
Wallingford

Also, if anyone knows any good day cares in these areas, that would be great!!

My choices would be, Milford, Orange, Hamden, North Branford, Guilford. Then along the coast would be Madison, Clinton, Westbrook...all gorgeous areas. Woodbridge is ok but I would hesitate on Wallingford. Parts of Wallingford are ok but I question the quality of the water there because of the fact that American Cyanamid has been polluting the area for years. Your price ranges are not so high for the Fairfield area, Milford or the coast. The further inland you go, the lower the prices get for homes.

I spent a week at Yale New Haven Hospital in the Cardiac Care Unit after open heart surgery and the care they give is outstanding. Great Hospital, just a not so great location...smack dab in the middle of the city and it is a huge sprawling hospital at that. Their Children's portion of the hospital is off the charts wonderful.

Good Luck with your move and welcome to the area.

[Connecticut Pam]

Originally Posted by Lexismommy

While we love the beach, it is not a complete necessity for us. All of our family will still be in LI, so we would probably be spending most of our summer weekends on LI beaches. I know our $$ is wide, maybe I can describe what we are looking for in terms of house instead. We would prefer a colonial, 3-4 bedrooms, at least 2 bathrooms. A nice big backyard so we could have a swingset for our kids and hold summer parties. Something with a walkable downtown would be nice. I love to put the kids in the stroller and walk into town on nice days. Nice parks, a town green, alot of young families. I belong to a MOMS club here on LI, and I would like something similar...so a town with lots of couples with children would be a huge plus.
I have to say, we did drive up to CT on Saturday, and fell in LOVE with Guilford and Madison. I just wanted to know what else might be out there.

Madison is the best! The beaches there are not so bad either...you would probably really like it there I am sure.