[laulob]

You may also want to look into Oxford. There is a new development on Lake Zoar that is right in your price range. It is a very family oriented town with a great community feel.

[ctmoves]

I have to put in my two cents as a resident, and I wholeheartedly second the IRIEKATE, that Ridgefield like other very rich Fairfield Cty towns is full of nouveaux-riches types self-centered and into flaunting their wealth. Come on now, you know it, too! Don't get down on IRIEKATE For speaking the truth. Just take a walk around town on a weekend, and you can't help but notice the amount of bright yellow Lamborghini's lined up at the Starbucks LOL!! On the plus side, it's lovely to look at, and the older people in town and some new people are not like that, more friendly and cultured, not into keeping up with the Jones'. The education is very competitive, so do expect that for your kids. My kids are academically gifted, so that helps here.

[GirlMom]

Depends on what you are looking for! If you want city life, country life, small town, larger town, metro area..... My personal fave areas would be Griswold, Voluntown, Pretson, these are all areas of Norwich. Waterford is nice too, it's near the water, it is close to New London..... New London has a few nice areas, if you are down near the beach, but other than that, I'd stay clear of there, I grew up there and it has some not so very desirable areas..... they are trying to clean it up, but it's a tough job.
Hartford, well, West Hartford has some very nice homes and areas, but it boarders the inner city area of Hartford. I'f steer clear of New Haven/Bridgeport. East Lyme/Old Lyme, Stonington, Mystic area all nice towns as well. Though, they are more pricey you will get better everything all the way around.

Good luck!

[arielmina]

interesting all the comments and hate on Ridgefield on this thread. I have lived in Ridgefield for a grand total of 25 years and I definitely disagree. And a budget of $650K in Ridgefield right now gets you a very nice house on a good size lot (2+ acres). There are several large lakes and lots of outdoor activities (hiking, fishing, row boating, biking, etc etc). Yes you can have a chicken coop and a large garden...even a pony

It is definitely one of the more down to earth towns in Fairfield County (notable exception to the "cities" in the county), and has a more economically diverse population. Yes it has changed alot in the years since I first moved here and with exception of the mcmansions on tiny lots, it's for the better. It's still a beautiful low key town with none of the rat race experienced in lower FFC. I have relatives in Darien and have lived in Wilton and Greenwich, and I don't believe there is any comparison in terms of the attitudes there compared to Ridgefield. I think to know Ridgefield, you have to do more than work there for a year...

[lasttimewemove]

thanks everyone. appreciate all the varied feedback. It is ALL helpful in forming our own opinion. We DID visit Ridgefield today. We really loved it! We are looking for a more out of the way property, so maybe the influence IrieKate spoke of just didn't bother us since we didn't see it. We were looking at smaller farms, little out of the way homes on old country roads. More jeeps than Lambroghinis for sure. We thought it was really quaint, had a great cross section of people, and everyone was friendly. We saw about 6 houses in our range with our criteria met. We dont have to be within commute distance to NYC, so there may be better options for us in other parts of the state, or MA...but if I had to commute to NY I would choose it for sure. We are in Old Saybrook now for the night. Looking at Old Lyme and river valley tomorrow. Not too impressed with Old Saybrook? I was expecting something completely different. If there is something we HAVE to see in the river valley, let me know! thanks again.

[JViello]

Originally Posted by lasttimewemove

thanks everyone. appreciate all the varied feedback. It is ALL helpful in forming our own opinion. We DID visit Ridgefield today. We really loved it! We are looking for a more out of the way property, so maybe the influence IrieKate spoke of just didn't bother us since we didn't see it. We were looking at smaller farms, little out of the way homes on old country roads. More jeeps than Lambroghinis for sure. We thought it was really quaint, had a great cross section of people, and everyone was friendly. We saw about 6 houses in our range with our criteria met. We dont have to be within commute distance to NYC, so there may be better options for us in other parts of the state, or MA...but if I had to commute to NY I would choose it for sure. We are in Old Saybrook now for the night. Looking at Old Lyme and river valley tomorrow. Not too impressed with Old Saybrook? I was expecting something completely different. If there is something we HAVE to see in the river valley, let me know! thanks again.

Chester, Deep River, Ivoryton, Essex are towns to look at in the lower River Valley. If you want to go a little further North, cross the "swing bridge" and check out East Haddam.

Old Lyme is nice, but IMHO is a bit stuffy and a little on the snobbish side with a lot of old money.

[wavehunter007]

Originally Posted by lasttimewemove

thanks everyone. appreciate all the varied feedback. It is ALL helpful in forming our own opinion. We DID visit Ridgefield today. We really loved it! We are looking for a more out of the way property, so maybe the influence IrieKate spoke of just didn't bother us since we didn't see it. We were looking at smaller farms, little out of the way homes on old country roads. More jeeps than Lambroghinis for sure. We thought it was really quaint, had a great cross section of people, and everyone was friendly. We saw about 6 houses in our range with our criteria met. We dont have to be within commute distance to NYC, so there may be better options for us in other parts of the state, or MA...but if I had to commute to NY I would choose it for sure. We are in Old Saybrook now for the night. Looking at Old Lyme and river valley tomorrow. Not too impressed with Old Saybrook? I was expecting something completely different. If there is something we HAVE to see in the river valley, let me know! thanks again.

Since I live in southeast coastal Connecticut… I can tell you that a good way to see the area is take the coastal highway RT 156 east through Old Lyme, East Lyme, Waterford, and then find I-95 north in New London (have to get over the Thames anyway)…then find Route 1 to Mystic. There are many galleries and museums from the Lymes to Rhode Island. You can then just keep driving all the way to the Watch Hill, RI on Route 1 if you want (this is where you reach the open sea). This can be a nice ride on a sunny day. Keep in mind… the further east you go the more the Connecticut coast becomes well, truly coastal (lol). As you approach the far eastern part of the southeast coast, many folks work in shipping, boating, sea charters, fishing, rigging, there are ramshackle beach cottages, old boat yards…etc. So if your looking for that more suburban, neat type of look (and I don’t know if your are?)… this might be a concern. Far eastern coastal Connecticut looks a lot like the old small port towns on the East Coast like Newport, RI or Charleston, SC.

You seem to be looking in the Lymes, they are very nice. In fact, I would tend to disagree with the comment about Old Lyme above (being stuffy): It can be a fun beach town from June through late September. The are plenty of places to lunch a boat, fish, and clam, there are a lot of younger art students around because of the Art School. Much of the old money image coastal Connecticut east of New Haven has been replaced with transplants from other areas of the Tri-State area or other regions. East Lyme is even more fun since it’s a little more built up, there are plenty of seafood places in Niantic, fishing charters, beaches, walking paths and bike trails, and the school system is very good. East Lyme is a real good choice for familes with kids and taxes are low.

The towns of the Connecticut River towns (Essex, Deep River…etc) are nice as well, but you are getting a bit far from the bigger, and more convientant shopping areas, the commuter trains (and Amtrak), the beaches, and I-95 (the mall/shopping area in southeast Connecticut is at exit 82 off I-95). Also areas like Essex seem to be more and more populated by retires from the city (Manhattan), so it’s geared more toward the wealthy older baby boomers… and less toward families with kids. However, the river towns are still nice low country towns with plenty of parks and natural areas. Essex is quite small, but quaint.

As far as things to see if you’re out along the southeast coast of Connecticut… I would say Mystic is definitely number one (Exit 90 off I-95). There are plenty of things to do their rain or shine. It shows you what coastal life was like 200 years ago. Make sure you go to both the center area (Mystic Village) and the Seaport area. Also, if you are into history, galleries, …etc you might enjoy Stonington Village (Exit 90 as well). It has the largest collection of pre-1900 buildings in Connecticut in one place besides the Yale Campus in New Haven.

Unfortunately it looks like you caught a cold week…so make the best of it. At least the sun will be back out on Wednesday (lol).

[Lincolnian]

There is no such thing as a perfect place. It is quite subjective. Someone who wants a superior school system might not like the high taxes (aggregate dollar amount not mill rate) that often accompany living in a higher achieving district. Others might not like the lack of diversity. Someone else might have problems with the pressure, snootiness, commute, etc.

[JViello]

Originally Posted by wavehunter007

You seem to be looking in the Lymes, they are very nice. In fact, I would tend to disagree with the comment about Old Lyme above (being stuffy): It can be a fun beach town from June through late September. The are plenty of places to lunch a boat, fish, and clam, there are a lot of younger art students around because of the Art School. Much of the old money image coastal Connecticut east of New Haven has been replaced with transplants from other areas of the Tri-State area or other regions.

Old Lyme has to be the "stuffiest" place I have been in CT by far. I was looking for Kate H on her porch sunning herself calling for the "cabana boy" to refill her afternoon tea.

This of course, is after dealing with several overly rich aholes who made it known they were overly rich aholes on a business level, and then considering the place for our wedding with several interviews with churches and facilities.

Keep in mind, I almost took an apartment with friends in Greenwich and lived in Darien commuting to the city for a time and my family has property on Shippan Point in Stamford so I'm not a "newb" on money and all that. IMO FFC doesn't hold a candle to the snobbery of Old Lyme.

I would suggest you go spend some time in downtown and hob knob with the locals before you "poo poo" the notion that Old Lyme is full of old money and old crabby libs who wouldn't know a hard days work if it hit them in the eye.

In the end, we got married in a historic Portuguese fisherman's church in Niantic. It just fit "us" better.

As for the lower CT River Valley, I'd hardly call it a "boomer" town. I think Essex was rated as America's NUMBER ONE small town a time or two before the cliques of "lists" became en vogue.

Other than that, I agree with your post.

[lasttimewemove]

We were ready to write off CT before today. ONLY in regard to what we are specifically looking for that suits us personally...not in any way a reflection on the state as a whole of course! THEN we visited Chester. And we fell in love with it. Loved the small towncenter, the friendlyness of the locals, the rolling hills, houses tucked into the knolls, weathered barns telling bits of its history, water everywhere!, the small theatre, lots of kids, LOTS of artists. Just loved it. Also loved the 2 "sibling" towns of Deep River and Essex. A local explained it that Chester was the artsy town, Deep RIver was blue collar, and Essex a little blue blood. We liked them all for thier uniqueness. We have a realtor there now and will continue to look into it. Lots of questions regarding the weather there, does it snow heavily (fine by us!), do the ponds freeze over? Whats the deal with property taxes? One house we looked at for about $400 had a $9k a year prop tax? is that consistent? How do they arrive at value for it? Schools seem great. Can have a 3 or 4 hen chicken coop no problem. It wasnt too far from big box stores in New London if we needed a depot run. Loved that we could have a boat on the river for recreation. NYC and Boston about 2 hours away. Excited!