[dontworryboutathing]

Hi everyone.

In your opinion, what is the cheapest (yet livable) coastal area to purchase a home? I'm looking for a community that is not unlike Sound Beach, Wading River or Rocky Point on Long Island, for those who know them. Just a normal, middle class, safe, coastal area where people actually still go fishing and spend time on the beach and don't have mega yachts or chips on their shoulders. A place where you can purchase a normal sized 3 bedroom house on a 1/4 plot of land and just have peace.

Thanks!

[kidyankee764]

I’d say look into Clinton, but I’m not sure if you need to be near employment. It’s a nice, middle class fisherman town with non pretentious marinas, restaurants and overall lifestyle.

[CTartist]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

I’d say look into Clinton, but I’m not sure if you need to be near employment. It’s a nice, middle class fisherman town with non pretentious marinas, restaurants and overall lifestyle.

[dontworryboutathing]

I have heard great things about Clinton! Any other ideas?

[CTartist]

Originally Posted by dontworryboutathing

I have heard great things about Clinton! Any other ideas?

You know I bet most of the towns east of Clinton on the shoreline would fit your bill too. I live in Fairfield County so to me Branford eastward is a breath of fresh middle class air to me. I have a relative that lives in southwest Fairfield County and he has a vacation house in Westbrook. Just a quiet getaway from all the rat race of the NYC metro area.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

I’d say look into Clinton, but I’m not sure if you need to be near employment. It’s a nice, middle class fisherman town with non pretentious marinas, restaurants and overall lifestyle.

Originally Posted by CTartist

You know I bet most of the towns east of Clinton on the shoreline would fit your bill too. I live in Fairfield County so to me Branford eastward is a breath of fresh middle class air to me. I have a relative that lives in southwest Fairfield County and he has a vacation house in Westbrook. Just a quiet getaway from all the rat race of the NYC metro area.

I agree with these suggestions. Anything from Clinton eastward are more middle class and down to earth. You do not indicate your budget though so it’s hard to make a more specific recommendation. Old Saybrook is a consummate beach town with many cottages and a more summer beach feel. It has the beaches and fishing you are looking for. Jay

[Stylo]

Hard to say without your budget.

Stratford, Milford, West Haven, East Haven, Branford, Clinton, Westbrook, East Lyme, Waterford all have nice, affordable middle class areas by the water. Even towns like Old Saybrook have some modest, low key neighborhoods.

They all have great relaxed coastal areas, fishing, and boating galore (especially the towns with major harbors: Milford, Branford, Westbrook in particular have a lot of slips). You have lots of options.

[CTartist]

Originally Posted by dontworryboutathing

Hi everyone.

In your opinion, what is the cheapest (yet livable) coastal area to purchase a home? I'm looking for a community that is not unlike Sound Beach, Wading River or Rocky Point on Long Island, for those who know them. Just a normal, middle class, safe, coastal area where people actually still go fishing and spend time on the beach and don't have mega yachts or chips on their shoulders. A place where you can purchase a normal sized 3 bedroom house on a 1/4 plot of land and just have peace.

Thanks!

I have no idea about the places you mentioned on LI but I see that all three have a Household Income over $100,000. So everything is relative.

The most expensive towns on the eastern coastline should be Guilford, Madison and Old Saybrook.

It looks like the most expensive towns I listed have about the same incomes as your towns. Just pick whatever town you like best. Enjoy!
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fa...york/HSG651220

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by CTartist

I have no idea about the places you mentioned on LI but I see that all three have a Household Income over $100,000. So everything is relative.

The most expensive towns on the eastern coastline should be Guilford, Madison and Old Saybrook.

It looks like the most expensive towns I listed have about the same incomes as your towns. Just pick whatever town you like best. Enjoy!
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fa...york/HSG651220

Great info CTartist but I don’t consider Old Saybrook affluent like Guilford or Madison. It has the lowest household income on the chart. I think the reason house prices and rents are so high is because it has a lot of waterfront homes that are second homes for people. It’s a beach town. Away from the beach prices get much more reasonable there. Jay

[CTartist]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Great info CTartist but I don’t consider Old Saybrook affluent like Guilford or Madison. It has the lowest household income on the chart. I think the reason house prices and rents are so high is because it has a lot of waterfront homes that are second homes for people. It’s a beach town. Away from the beach prices get much more reasonable there. Jay

I took a "wag" at Old Saybrook. I figured it was very expensive because Katherine Hepburn lived there but you are right, it's less than some of the other towns on the coastline. They are all around the same affordable ballpark for the OP though.
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fa...icut/PST045221

Here is a question. The per capita for Old Lyme is $72,875. What are those people doing for work all the way (eastward from NYC) up there to make so much?