Massachusetts vs Laguna Beach, CA (Boston, Lexington: real estate, foreclosures, budget)

[looking2008]

Thank you very much for all of your messages and pictures! I am looking for a city which would remind me of Irvine -kind infrastructure. Newport coast also looks like it : wide streets, stores like trader joes, new homes + not affected by foreclosures. Also, I am asking about primary schools, not universities. Which state, in your opinion, would have the best grocery stores? Thank you again.

[looking2008]

If possible, could you please compare Greenwich, Connecticut and Newport Coast, CA? Are there cities like Newport Coast in Massachusetts; Coastal Massachusetts? There are also islands like Nantucket Island? I am not concerned about vegetation. I am concerned about primary schools, middle schools, grocery stores, air quality, water quality, climate, any hazards I should be aware of? Thank you.

[looking2008]

Also, I think Prius is the best car for now. But, in Massachusetts and Connecticut will I have to have SUV?

[looking2008]

Are there shopping places in Massachusetts and/or Connecticut like Fashion Island and South Coast Plaza? Also, I do not like humidity more than 40-50%. How far north on the east coast should I go to avoid unpleasantly hot days? In Southern California, I do not like when it is too dry like 5% or less. The last 2 years the weather was and is crazy everywhere in US.

[looking2008]

Am I correct in my thinking that the houses in the North East are well built (without the holes in the walls and doors) to protect from the winters unlike Southern California? Also, how does the heating of houses work? (natural gas powered air heaters or something different from that in California)?

[skytrekker]

Lots of questions.

Greenwich CT is one of the wealthiest and expensive places to live in the country. It is priced in the same league as Beverly Hills- and Atherton CA. Greenwich is located on Long Island sound on Connecticut's southwestern shoreline. Along the beaches on a decent day New York's skyline is easily seen. Shopping in Greenwich, along Greenwich Avenue is like walking on Rodeo drive. Schools are uniformly excellent. From elementary through secondary.

Supermarkets in Greenwich will range from the Independent boutiques- to regional chains. Trader Joe's near Greenwich include within Fairfield county; in nearby Toney Darien, and Westport. Also in the town of Fairfield and Danbury- in greater Hartford -West Hartford.

Major supermarket chains- Stop & Shop, The Big Y, Shaw's. Air pollution/smog can be a problem in the summer months in most of Connecticut. Especially the southwest corner and the Connecticut river valley. Climate is a mild (In Greenwich) moderate humid continental climate with 4 distinct seasons. Winter begins around Christmas and ends three months later. Snowfall averages about 25" per winter. Temperatures rarely drop to zero or below.

The longest season is from mid to late August to Thanksgiving- with warm to balmy weather- Trees begin to change color in early to mid October, and peak in color in late October. Hurricanes and tropical storms are not common, but can occur.

Summer in Connecticut and Massachusetts will see days with higher levels of humidity then you may be accustomed to. The coolest areas in the summer will be south eastern coastal CT, Coastal Rhode Island, Cape Ann Ma. Cape Cod and the Islands.

A SUV is not needed in Greenwich and most of Connecticut and Massachusetts- a Prius is fine. An option would be a Subaru- very popular in New England.

As for home construction here; because of the colder climate, local towns have rigid specs on the amount of insulation and construction for energy efficiency. New Homes reflect the evolving and improving technology. Heating is through oil, natural gas, propane and electricity. Oil will be the most costly- and is best to avoid, electricity in many cases is also expensive. Natural gas & propane gas are the least costly.

Most heating here is through forced air- in newer homes. Older homes-pre 1985 may have baseboard or other types. Most newer homes also now have central air conditioning.

[puffle]

After reading all of your posts looking, I think you need to change the way you are looking at a potential place to live. If you want something identical to what you already have then stay there because you won't be happy somewhere else always comparing what you had to where you are. Does that make sense? Especially if this is a voluntary move. Why move someone that is just like where you are now?? This does not exist in New England. This is completely different than SoCal from the history, traditions, accents,scenery,housing,mind sets, and weather. I grew up in the Los Angeles area and moved here in Mass. to be somewhere completely different from what I was use to. I didn't want the same malls, same architecture, same beaches or stores. I wanted something unique to the area which I have in spades. I love experiencing a different way of life in the second half of my life. If you are always looking back you can't enjoy what is right in front of you and will be missing the adventure. Good luck to you.

[TheWereRabbit]

Originally Posted by puffle

After reading all of your posts looking, I think you need to change the way you are looking at a potential place to live. If you want something identical to what you already have then stay there because you won't be happy somewhere else always comparing what you had to where you are. Does that make sense? Especially if this is a voluntary move. Why move someone that is just like where you are now?? This does not exist in New England. This is completely different than SoCal from the history, traditions, accents,scenery,housing,mind sets, and weather. I grew up in the Los Angeles area and moved here in Mass. to be somewhere completely different from what I was use to. I didn't want the same malls, same architecture, same beaches or stores. I wanted something unique to the area which I have in spades. I love experiencing a different way of life in the second half of my life. If you are always looking back you can't enjoy what is right in front of you and will be missing the adventure. Good luck to you.

Yes!!

Puffle, this is the post that merits the 2nd rep point since that time I gave you the negative rep.

To the OP: It seems like you are just looking for a wealthy suburb with good schools that's near the ocean- if that is the case say that instead of saying a town like laguna beach or a town like newport blah blah OC whatever. There are no towns like that because we don't have palm trees and year-round 70 degree temps. We don't have planned communities or republicans either.


And if you want less than 40% humdity you can go as far up the east coast as you want- it ain't gunna happen. It'll be humid from the Caribbean to Labrador. You might wanna stay in Socal, or try maybe Cyprus or somewhere.


.....eh, whatever. Or just go to Greenwich. Close enough.

PAY MORE ATTENTION TO EVERYONE ELSE'S POST THAN MINE.

[looking2008]

Let's say I am looking for my dream suburban city. I understand this is a very personal question. But, I think I can find something on this city-data forum because city-data has some data about each city in the country. If Manhattan is the best city-style city let's find the best suburban-style city. The factors that I consider important are:
1. air quality
2. close to any ocean
3. best schools
4. best grocery stores
5. well educated people
6. water quality
7. least hazards
8. newer homes but not affected by foreclosures

possibly, not a tourist attraction

I am not looking for something similar to SoCal. There are lots of different places in SoCal. And, Laguna beach is not the same as Newport Coast or Irvine.
I am trying to find my dream suburb or close, the one I would dream about and try to achieve living there.
I can write a lot of positive and negative things about SoCal but I do not know anything about other places in US like North East or North West. It would be very hard to drive each road in the country. Thank you again.

P.S. I do not care if there are palm trees or not. As far as temperatures are concerned: it is better to have temperatures less than 80F year around. Also, I think snow and frost is good. Cloudy or sunny is not important.

[Justabystander]

I read this, and thought, you have got to be kidding me if this guy actually thinks there is a comparison between New England and Newport Coast CA !!! Having grown up in OC and gone to college in MA and having my grandparents from Boston, I can tell you there is NO comparison between the two. Coastal OC, particularly the Newport area, is fake, plastic, materialistic, and shallow. You appear to fit the OC mold, asking if anything is comparable to Fashion Island ( a ritzy mall for you New Englanders ), Newport Coast and Laguna Beach ( two of the most affluent parts of OC) and Greenwich ( just plain rich ). Pretty elitist questions. I found that Boston is far more salt of the earth ( Subarus and Volvos v the BMWs and Mercedes of the Newport coast ) far more sophisticated and educated, and deeper. Compare Newport Coast to the fake blonde with the boob job driving her convertible barely making it to the gas station cause she can't afford to fill up because she just bought her 22nd pair of stilletos, and the Massachusetts coast as the beautiful brunette librarian behind the glasses helping patrons find the latest novel.

I agree with one poster, that maybe you just ought to relocate right to some mansion in Greenwich so you can find some snob factor. The education difference between the east ( better schools) and California should not affect you in the least, since you already seem to be below par in understanding geography and ways of life. On the other hand, better stick to Neiman Marcus in Fashion Island, just in case the move back east makes you deeper and less shallow