[LSaver17]

All,

I work in Stamford, where fiance and I currently rent. We are looking to buy, and have centered in on Shelton and Stratford.

Details of those cities aside (which are covered quite well in other posts which I searched for, thanks to all who wrote!) and irrespective of whether or not such a commute is a "good" idea, how long is the commute from each?

I realize Shelton is rural, how long would the commute be from the White Hills area, versus the Huntington area?

As for Stratford, how long would it be from the Putney area of Stratford (which is right off of 95).

My job requires me to drive most days, so the train would be tough.

I am particularly focused on the AM commute. If I left my house in Shelton at 7:00AM, could I make it to Stamford in an hour and 15?

Thanks to anyone who has any insight, it is greatly appreciated.

[JayCT]

The Putney area of Stratford is located off of the Merritt Parkway not I-95. I-95 is further to the south. It is difficult to judge the travel times to Stamford because they vary from day-to-day with traffic and weather conditions. It should take 35 to 40 minutes to Stamford from Stratford during off peak hours. At 7:00 I would add another 30 minutes to that.

The White Hills section of Shelton is pretty far removed from any highways. It will just add to your commuting time. Of the areas you mentioned, Putney would be the easiest, Huntington next and White hills last. Jay

[NY2CT]

When we lived in South Norwalk, my husband worked in Stamford. Although we lived 7 or 8 miles from his job, it typically took him 30-45 minutes to get to work. His co-worker lived in Fairfield, about 15-20 miles from work. He left the house between 6:30 and 7:30, and it typically took him an hour to get to work. I think it will probably take you at least an hour and a half to get to Stamford most days. Traffic on I-95 is awful in that area.

[joanchris2000]

We lived in Stratford and my husband commuted to So Norwalk. He did not have to be at work until 7 am, however he chose to leave around 6 or 615 to avoid the heavy traffic, if he left by 615 most days he would reach So Norwalk in 25-30 min, any later he'd easily add 50% to travel time. (he would bring breakfast and eat at work before beginning his day.). Depending on where in Stamford (how far off the highway in particular) it would be about 20 more minutes. Also, we lived about 3 min from I95 so very little time was spent getting TO the highway.
Good luck. By the way, Shelton, nowdays, is far from Rural, though it is farther from the highways, again, depending on where.....if you lived not far from Rte 8 then it could speed up the commute time.

[Josh2020]

I prefer Shelton. Even though their housing prices are a bit higher then Stratford, but Shelton also has VERY low property taxes (because of a volunteer fire department) compared to Stratford. Stratford's mayor is already planning to INCREASE property taxes by 2 mills (which the current mill rate is 32.?, soon to be 34.?) and Shelton's mayor just announced the are LOWERING the property taxes by about 6 mills (current is 24.?, soon to be 17.?). If you plan to have a family and they would attend the public schools, I prefer Shelton over Stratford. Shelton's schools have alot more to offer and less crime and better test scores (www.greatschools.net), although Stratford's school aren't 'bad,' I attended Stratford's schools and each year they got worse and worse, but thats just my opinion, and friends I knew from Shelton schools loved it. However, if you buy in Stratford, you should exclude the south end (housing projects) and the Bruce Ave area (West end). Even though you've said you read the details about these towns, just wanted to my opinion to the 2.

Commuting: The White Hills area of Shelton is rural, and when I come back from my aunts home (who lives in that area), it takes me about 10 minutes to reach downtown Shelton (where Rt. 8 exit 14 is located). To get to the merritt parkway from that area would take you around 15-20 minutes, since the merritt is located in Stratford/Shelton line. Commuting from White Hills area of Shelton to Stamford can take an hour and 15 minutes - 2 hours, depending how the traffic is and if there was an accident. Note: Rt.8 traffic is less extreme then I-95 traffic & accidents. Commuting from the Huntington area of Shelton to Stamford can save you around 5 minutes, depending on traffic (Huntington's exit is exit 12 off Rt.8 and distance from exit 12-14-[White Hills exit] is about 5 minutes). Commuting from Stratford's Putney area can take around the same time from the White Hills area. Stratford's Putney area is not off I-95 (10 mintues distance), it is off the Merritt Parkway (exit 51). For afternoon traffic (just to let you know), Rt.8 is not as cluttered as the Merritt Parkway and especially I-95. Another one of my aunts lives in Stratford and works in Westport and it can sometimes take her about and hour and 45 mintutes (depending on traffic), but can also make it in about an 45 minutes to and hour.

I hoped I helped, and hope you didn't mind the extra info.

[Whalehead]

Josh-
That was probably one of the best replies I've seen on here in a long time. WELL DONE!