Fairfield (Bridgeport, Hartford, West Hartford: middle-class, apartment complexes, condo)

arizcats13 · 07-08-2010, 02:19 PM

One of the towns that my wife and I are considering is Fairfield, now that the prices are coming more into our range. We are looking up to 600k, and there seems to be a better inventory of houses in that range recently. However, most of these houses are closer to the Bridgeport side of town, with several in the Stratfield area.

I'm looking for honest answers regarding the different sections of Fairfield. I have an 8 month old daughter and I want to be able to send her to top-notch schools and live in a low crime area. I guess I just want people to give it to me straight regarding those neighborhoods that are close to, or bordering, Bridgeport.

TIA

PS... I'm from the West Hartford area so I was wondering if it is similar to the areas closer to the west end of Hartford?

JayCT · 07-08-2010, 03:44 PM

I think Fairfield is very much like West hartford in character but I am not sure I would agree that Stratfield is like the parts of West Hartford that adjoin Hartford.

Stratfield abuts Bridgeport's North End which is a large middle-class residential neighborhood. It is comprised mostly of small homes (mostly capes or ranches) on small lots or nice middle-class condo and apartment complexes. West hartford's border area is older and more urban in character. The North End of Bridgeport is more suburban (think 1950's homes). Stratfield is older though and has some of the character of the older neighborhoods of West Hartford.

As for schools, Fairfield's schools are excellent. The two schools that serve Stratfield (Stratfield and North Stratfield) are very well regarded overall. I would not really worry which school in Fairfield that my child went to. They will get a good education no matter which school in Fairfield you send them to. You should visit the area and drive around a bit to see if it is to your liking. Jay

toddb · 07-09-2010, 09:29 AM

Besides Stratfield, you can also look into the Fairfield Woods section (closer to Black Rock Tpke) - there's plenty of housing in that price range, and you'll get more than a cape for that price. Like Jay said, your kids will be safe and in good schools pretty much anywhere in Fairfield. I would definitely drive the area, and even walk around a little bit, particularly on the weekends, if you have the time.

arizcats13 · 07-09-2010, 05:45 PM

Thanks for the replies. I agree with walking/driving the area and at some point we'll be able to do it. However, right now we are stuck in Texas waiting for a transfer to come through...

dazzleman · 07-09-2010, 07:51 PM

I live in the Stratfield section of Fairfield. I consider it one of the nicest parts of town, and you can get much better property there for the money than on the other side of town.

As long as you don't go all the way down to Kings Highway, Fairfield is very nice right up to the border with Bridgeport, and the part of Bridgeport abutting Fairfield is very nice from a little bit north of North Avenue all the way up. This compares favorably with the Stratford side of Bridgeport, where the Bridgeport blight spills over into Stratford. Fairfield doesn't have that problem to any real degree.

There's a great diversity of housing in the Stratfield section. Houses range from very large on big property, abutting golf courses, to more modest homes. The schools are as good as anywhere else in town.

I don't think you have any reservations about this section of town at all. I've lived in 2 houses in this section for the past 15 years and I really love it. I wouldn't choose to live elsewhere in town at this point.

Stratford, Ct. Resident · 07-09-2010, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dazzleman

This compares favorably with the Stratford side of Bridgeport, where the Bridgeport blight spills over into Stratford. Fairfield doesn't have that problem to any real degree.

I don't want to jack the thread, but i do wish to clarify that the "blight" encroachment from Bridgeport into Stratford doesn't apply to every portion of Stratford that borders Bridgeport.

dazzleman · 07-09-2010, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stratford, Ct. Resident

I don't want to jack the thread, but i do wish to clarify that the "blight" encroachment from Bridgeport into Stratford doesn't apply to every portion of Stratford that borders Bridgeport.

I know that's true. And there is a slight encroachment of blight from Bridgeport into Fairfield along Kings Highway. But I think there are some 'rougher' sections of Stratford near Bridgeport than is the case on the Fairfield side because the Bridgeport neighborhoods abutting Stratford tend to be worse than the one abutting Fairfield. I didn't mean to be critical of Stratford. It is a very nice town overall.

JayCT · 07-09-2010, 09:13 PM

Actually Kings highway (which is Route 1) turns into North Avenue in Bridgeport and I think that North Avenue is far more attractive than kings highway. That is because Kings highway is primarily commercial and North Avenue is primarily residential. I also think the neighborhoods in Fairfield are nice all the way to Kings Highway. Villa Avenue has many nice homes and the streets off of it are nice too. I know people there and they like it.

between kings highway and Post Road, is primarily an industrial area along the Bridgeport border. This is where the new train station is being built. The area around the Post Road is called Grasmere and is also pretty nice. Jay

JayCT · 07-09-2010, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toddb

Besides Stratfield, you can also look into the Fairfield Woods section (closer to Black Rock Tpke) - there's plenty of housing in that price range, and you'll get more than a cape for that price. Like Jay said, your kids will be safe and in good schools pretty much anywhere in Fairfield. I would definitely drive the area, and even walk around a little bit, particularly on the weekends, if you have the time.

Good suggestion. Lake hills is nice too. Jay

Stratford, Ct. Resident · 07-09-2010, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dazzleman

But I think there are some 'rougher' sections of Stratford near Bridgeport than is the case on the Fairfield side because the Bridgeport neighborhoods abutting Stratford tend to be worse than the one abutting Fairfield. I didn't mean to be critical of Stratford. It is a very nice town overall.

No disagreement there. You'll never see me paint the Bruce Ave. vicinity, running from Boston Ave. down to Stratford Ave., as a picturesque oasis. It looks like you're still in Bridgeport.