[Ehofstat]

I will be working in New Haven and my husband will be working in Stamford...we are looking for somewhere in-between to live with a reasonable commute to each city and a decent school system. I hear rush hour traffic is terrible in both directions. Advice?

[MikefromCT]

Have you decided on a budget yet?

If you can afford Fairfield, definitely look at this town. It's expensive, but it's much more afforable than the neighboring and nearby towns (Westport, Darien, New Canaan). They have excellent schools, it's located between both NH and Stamford, and they have a nice dowtown area, complete with a MetroNorth that can take you into the city if you ever want to visit it.

If you can't afford Fairfield, consider Orange and Milford. They're less expensive than Fairfield but they're also closer to New Haven than to Stamford. Both have good schools, though, and they're nice, safe towns.

Rush hour traffic can be heavy, but it's worse if you're going towards New York. Still, you have several options - I95, the Merritt Pkwy, and MetroNorth (which does stop in Stamford along the way).

[JayCT]

A lot will depend on your budget and what you expect to get for your money. I agree Fairfield is an excellent choice. It is a nice town with excellent schools and a wide range of housing options. There is a nice downtown with shops and restaurants and many nice beaches and parks. i would highly recommend it. Getting any closer to Stamford is pretty hard since this area is one of the most expensive in the country. Closer to New Haven, I agree to consider Milford and Orange. Another option might be Trumbull or Shelton. Jay

[Silli]

Take the train if at all possible. Both New Haven and Stamford have excellent shuttle systems to local employers. New Haven's are operated by CT Transit while Stamford has many private shuttle buses in addition to the CT transit options.

[Spoklahoma]

I live in Fairfield and take the train every day to Stamford for work (between 20 and 30 mins depending on which train I take) and it's a breeze. We moved here from Seattle in Apr '09 and absolutely love it here. Seems like Fairfield would work for you since the New Haven line train goes to both Stamford and New Haven with a stop in Fairfield going both ways.