[urb100]

Found this great site and wanted to get your suggestions. Thanks in advance.

Background:
Me and my wife are both going to be working in Milford and we have a son who is in 4th grade now.
We are considering Orange, CT or Fairfield, CTto buy a single family house. Budget approx. 500,000. Mainly looking for good schools, and easy commute.

Please suggest - pros and cons between Orange, CT and Fairfield, CT.

Any other alternate areas, where we should look in addition to these?

Thanks.

[MikefromCT]

You can't really go wrong with either of these towns. Both are nice, safe, middle-class suburbs that would be close to Milford. Orange would be closer and you'll probably get more of a house there, but IMO Fairfield is a much nicer town. Don't get me wrong - there are some really nice neighborhoods in Orange and it's right next door to where you'd be commuting. But Fairfield overall is just a great town. If you're willing to settle for a further commute and a somewhat higher cost of living, you might like it. I'm not familiar with the schools in Orange, but those in Fairfield are excellent. It's also closer to New York, if that matters.

[kidyankee764]

Orange's schools are excellent as well.

There really aren't any "cons" to either town IMO. Orange is closer to a plethora of shopping on RT 1, but Fairfield has a town center and lots of shopping as well.

Personally I don't see much difference between the two communities other than what I mentioned above, and that Fairfield is on the water.

[andthentherewere3]

I agree that both towns are great options. The biggest difference to me, is that Orange just seems a little more rural, once you get off the main roads with all the shopping centers. The houses seem like they are on larger lots than most of the homes I see in Fairfield.

[Thruway]

Orange is a nice town and it is still within the NY tri state area.
Like Fairfield, you will not have any Boston influence or any of the "We are New England" bogus...this is pure NY sports country.

[JayCT]

I agree with shat the others posted, both towns are excellent choices. Orange would be closer to Milford and you will get more for your money there, but Fairfield has a bit more charm IMHO. Visit both towns and see which one appeals to you more. Jay

[whome224]

Originally Posted by MikefromCT

You can't really go wrong with either of these towns. Both are nice, safe, middle-class suburbs that would be close to Milford.

I don't think you can hardly consider Fairfield wholly middle-class. It has many different neighborhoods ranging from, yes, middle-class to extremely affluent. I don't think Greenfield Hill residents would appreciate such a rash generalization. To answer the OP, both towns are gorgeous although Orange will certainly be more convenient to Milford, as the others have mentioned. The Amity school district is one of the best in the state, as are the Fairfield Public Schools.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

For you, Orange is definitely superior to Fairfield. 500K is bottom-end in Fairfield, as you seem to have found out judging by your other post about a prospective home.

Orange is part of the Amity school district(along with Woodbridge and Bethany), which is award winning and highly regarded.
On your budget in Fairfield, you will not be in an elementary school district with the "top" schools. You'll be in the "bottom" schools, which would be considered good and perfectly acceptable for the majority of people, however in Fairfield, they're not considered to be "great".

Your commute time from Orange to Milford would be virtually nothing. Fairfield to Milford will certainly take longer. Good luck with your decision.

[MikefromCT]

Originally Posted by whome224

I don't think you can hardly consider Fairfield wholly middle-class. It has many different neighborhoods ranging from, yes, middle-class to extremely affluent. I don't think Greenfield Hill residents would appreciate such a rash generalization.

I agree, but it wasn't meant to be a generalization. What I was getting at is that middle class neighborhoods in Fairfield exist for the OP's budget. You don't have to tell me that uber-wealthy neighborhoods exist. I mean, you can but I don't need convincing. Greenfield Hill and Southport = $$$.

[urb100]

Great suggestions. Thanks.
On schools - is Riverfield school in Fairfield considered "better" or "aveage" within fairfield schools?

In orange, all schools seem to have after-school programs. How about in Fairfield school specifically Riverfield school?