[Anais95]

Hi All,

My husband will start work in Springfield,MA and i just found a job in new york city.We're living in New jersey and it's about time to start finding apts, but need some info. about good town which is center for both new york and springfield. Pls.provide me inputs regarding which city in CT is equal distance for both of us. or is it insane idea??just let me know if it's too much travel time. then i might hv to give up my job.

Thanks,
Anais

[heather121]

The halfway point in CT between NYC and Springfield would be New Haven, CT. New Haven to NYC is 2 hours by train (don't even attempt the commute by car), and New Haven to Springfield by car (there is no train) is 1+ hours (65 miles), not including the traffic on I-91 into and out of Hartford. That is a LOT of commuting to do every day- unless these jobs are both of your DREAM jobs IMO I would seriously reconsider one or the other because there really is no good half-way commuting point.

[KH02]

I think it's INSANE to do those two commutes.
To NYC it would be at least 2 hours AND To Springfield, Ma would be about 1 hour and 40minutes or so as i HAVE done that drive and it's NOT fun.

[Silli]

I think it's insane too- but second the vote for New Haven. You could both take a train to your destinations, potentially, or you could drive, it's not a horrendous distance but would be bad for traffic.
Here's another option: since living expenses are much less in Springfield, your husband could get a studio apartment or 1 bedroom in Springfield and visit you in your place on the weekends. He could probably find something basic for less than $1000. That might help if you absolutely need to do the Springfield/NYC split.

[fxtrader]

I know people that do the New Haven to New York commute daily. If you sleep or read on the train it probably helps.

[7 Wishes]

Originally Posted by Silli

I think it's insane too- but second the vote for New Haven. You could both take a train to your destinations, potentially, or you could drive, it's not a horrendous distance but would be bad for traffic.
Here's another option: since living expenses are much less in Springfield, your husband could get a studio apartment or 1 bedroom in Springfield and visit you in your place on the weekends. He could probably find something basic for less than $1000. That might help if you absolutely need to do the Springfield/NYC split.

I'm temporarily in Hartford during the week and that's what I'm doing now (my temporary gig in Hartford ends in early August), go home to Westchester County on weekends. Actually, if you're willing to be real "spartan" and able to bring your stuff with you on weekends you could rent a cheap motel room Monday-Friday for about $800/month, maybe less (and if you don't want to move your stuff, just work out a "long term deal"). That may sound like a lot for a small room, but it will usually include a microwave/fridge (so you can eat in), cable TV, AC/heat, and Internet which you'd otherwise have bills for in an apt.

If (a possible result of this gig), I end up here more permanently, I'll probably do something like that (what Silli said) for a year to see how the job works out and give it time to sell my condo (fortunately in this sense, my wife isn't at a permanent job at home right now, though that could change very soon and complicate things).

[ctcoldplay11]

Holy crap! That commute for both of you would be one from H-E-double hockeysticks, for sure! Your husband would be driving (as KH02 pointed out, 1 hour and 40 minutes, I think it's more realistically like 1 hour 15 minutes, without traffic) to Springfield. However, he will be commuting through Hartford traffic which is most always horrendous. I know from personal experience (and I've only been commuting 30 minutes to Hartford for the past month) that the drive is EXHAUSTIVE. He would most likely be coming up through I-91, which is better than I-84, but not THAT much better. I-91 is also notorious for accidents (Wallingford, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Hartford stretches most notably) which cause significant delays in the area.

As for you, a commute from New Haven to NYC would be torture. I don't care when other people say they've done the commute, that it's not bad. IT'S SIMPLY NOT NATURAL. Who the heck wants to commute that far EVERYDAY? The commute to NYC would be around 2 hours, a total of 4 per day (AHHHHH).

In all honesty, I'd ask you to consider your job locations. If the NYC job isn't mandatory I'd suggest finding a job closer to Springfield. Or, as Silli mentioned, your husband could rent up in Springfield (if you both don't mind). Connecticut is one of the most congested states, (I'm sure you are familiar, coming from NJ and all!) so commutes can be DRAINING. So think hard and deep about both commutes, it's certainly not one to be taken lightly. Good luck!