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You need to make a lot of money to really live well in either state. If you've got money, however, either can be beautiful. Nothing beats houses near the ocean at several million and up.
My general impression - CT = excellent suburbs with very well maintained streets, parks and other common areas. However, the cities are generally a sad lot. Don't know much about their beaches and beach towns but they are not exactly famous for them. RI = fun cities (Providence, Newport) and some good beaches and beach towns. However, RI has poorly maintained streets, parks and other common areas throughout much of the state. Taxes are a wash.
I grew up in CT and lived there for 23 years. I have lived in RI for the past 8 years.
CT is a very suburban state. It's loaded with congestion, especially in the southeastern portion, which is pretty much a suburb of NYC. The northwest and northeast corners of the state are low in population and very beautiful, but there are few jobs in those portions. The cities are more dangerous than those in RI, though many have cleaned up quite a bit, especially New Haven. There are no beaches worth writing home about in CT. Long Island Sound is pretty dirty. The beaches closer to RI are nicer than those closer to NY, but they're nothing compared to those in RI. The state parks are generally nicer in CT, but CT is a bigger state.
RI is a more urban state with the vast majority of the population concentrated around Providence and along the bay. The rest of the state is pretty rural. The beaches are really nice. The cities are fun and the food is amazing. There's a strong sense of community (that I never really felt in CT).
I disagree with Jenkins on the maintenance of the streets, at least to a point. While some are maintained well, not all are. I would say that the highways in RI are better maintained than those in CT. Local streets depend on the town.
Also, while taxes might be similar in the 2 states, cost of housing is going to be more expensive in CT.
CT is kind of a bland state. RI has a lot of local character. Some find it charming, others find it annoying. I like it. It sets us apart and makes us a little more "special". I will say that I was a bit nervous moving here. I came for a job, not for any other reason. I eventually fell in love with Providence (I live in the city) and the state as a whole. There is no reason to ever drive more than 20 minutes for just about anything here (except Newport and the beaches), while in CT you might sit in traffic that long trying to get where you need to go.
RI, because Rhode Island is Rhode island, Connecticut is a suburb of New York.
Ah the elistist CT hating Bostonian's still exist. I guess in that case RI is just a suburb of Boston.
You do realize half of CT is actually closer to Boston than NYC. Just sayin. Also only the lower SW corner is really a suburb of NYC, the rest of the state stands on it's own and does so pretty well. The Hartford metro is one of the top 10 wealthiest in the nation and has a GDP greater than 16 STATES.
You know, this little "suburb of NY" that is actually 20 miles closer to Boston.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RunawayJim
CT is kind of a bland state. RI has a lot of local character. Some find it charming, others find it annoying. I like it....There is no reason to ever drive more than 20 minutes for just about anything here (except Newport and the beaches), while in CT you might sit in traffic that long trying to get where you need to go.
I don't know where you lived in CT, but it's not anyplace I recognize. Bland? Seriously? We have everything from Ski resorts to oceanfront parks. Historic towns, the river valley, Northwest corner, Southeast (Mystic area) shore etc etc.
Everything from this:
http://www.jviello.com/personal02/forum/clinton-03.jpg (broken link)
To this:
As for traffic, I'm guessing you dealt with SW CT. The Hartford metro has large modern highways, and very little traffic. 30 minutes to anything and anywhere for the most part.
I grew up outside New Haven (to the east) and lived there for 23 years. I spent a little over 4 years in Mansfield (yeah, I went to UConn). Hartford traffic is worse than Providence traffic. That's because people don't live in Hartford, they just work there. Traffic on 95 in CT starts east of New Haven and goes through NYC.
Ski resorts? Please! Those are hills with trails cut into them. I suppose if you enjoy spending your time on the bunny slope, they're fun, but why spend $45 at a "mountain" with 10 lame trails with 500' of vertical when you can drive a bit farther, get over 1000' of vertical for a little more money with some much better trails?
The Hartford metro also has no train, except the uber-expensive Amtrak. So those modern highways are full of cars. 30 minutes to what from Hartford? New Haven, the only decent city in CT is 40+ minutes.
By "bland" I mean no local flavor. CT is heavily influenced by New York and MA. RI has it's own local flavor and character and more of that "New England" feel than the vast majority of CT. And no one wants to swim in LI Sound...
Yes, parts of CT are beautiful, but besides being beautiful, those parts have nothing else going for them.
I agree that CT has probably the most unappealing coastline on the eastern seaboard. Or now that I think of it, any state on either coast blows it away. Don't get started on Mystic, that's just one town.
Now Connecticut's certainly not the worst state, but RI puts it to shame on just about everything but money and casinos.
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