[JViello]

If you want a nice "NC" style newer home >2000sf, in a good neighborhood, with good schools - $500K should get you there. Get ready to start listing your compromised now.

[kimberline18]

Any thoughts on North Haven? I really appreciate everyone's input...I've also been talking to s friend that is a Connecticut native which is where I'm getting these other suggestions from. She doesn't have kids though so she can't speak to the school districts or family friendliess of a particular area.

[seymourct]

Hamden has conveniences, the Havens have taxes, Shelton itself is good, SEYMOUR hmmm LOL never heard of it... No seriously Seymour is good for you, very family oriented safe town. There are a LOT of sahm like me, but Stratford would be good to

Happy home hunting and welcome to CT

[JViello]

Originally Posted by kimberline18

Any thoughts on North Haven? I really appreciate everyone's input...I've also been talking to s friend that is a Connecticut native which is where I'm getting these other suggestions from. She doesn't have kids though so she can't speak to the school districts or family friendliess of a particular area.

Have you ever been to this state? You might want to visit, if it's not too late. Some of these old mill cities are a shock to folks not from here. Not for nothing, but there is a reason over 100,000 people moved from here to NC over the last decade.

It's a very different place than NC in regard to social and economic divides. You can go from a very ugly and poor urban city to an affluent gorgeous suburb in a matter of a mile. Literally. There is not much middle ground. The biggest loss for CT is the middle class demographic. Not much of it here, for a reason.

Not trying to scare you, just present some reality as well.

[renovating]

Originally Posted by kimberline18

We have 2 kids, one of which will be starting Kindergarten in the fall so schools are VERY important to us.

Our budget for a home is around $350K. Any suggestions?

If schools are your first priority and the job is in Shelton, I would consider Trumbull, Monroe, Oxford, Milford and Shelton.

Of those 4, only Milford and Shelton have "downtowns", however Trumbull, Monroe, and Oxford have better schools (imo excellent). Shelton has lower taxes and the Huntington section is beautiful. Milford is on the shoreline and offers beaches.

You will likely have to spend 400-450k for a house, and in Oxford it will be a new, large home.

If you are willing to up your price for a home, I would also recommend Fairfield for excellent schools.

[brien51]

It depends upon how far you want to commute since , if you can take up to a 45 minute commute, then look at the small towns along RT 8 north of Waterbury.

Chesire is a nice small town, just south of Waterbury along Rt 8. There is Level one or two Prison there but it is small. The state helps with taxes in the prison towns. I don't know about the schools but you can get a rating on all 169 towns from the State Department of Education in Hartford.

Be advised that CT is the third most expensive state to live in the Union. Our Gas tax is one of the highest in the nation. We have a 6% sales tax and an income tax pegged to your federal return. We are also running a big deficit which the New Democrat governor paired with a Super majority Democrat legislature, so we will see how they address the deficit and the gigantic debt. I have a bad feeling income taxes are going up but the Governor says he is going to cut state jobs and consolidate departments. We don't have any levels of County government here, so that helps when funding government.

Best of luck, you'll need it in this state since everytime we turn around, they either spend more money they don't have, or they raise taxes. Any good community, you will likely see about a $5000 per year property tax bill for a fairly new 2500 sq ft house. Oh, also be prepared to pay personal property taxes on motorcycles, cars, trailers and campers. Each town has a tax assessor and the town sets the mill rate, and you pay it on everything from the house to the items I mentioned above.

Once again good luck.

[renovating]

Originally Posted by JViello

. The biggest loss for CT is the middle class demographic. Not much of it here, for a reason.

The middle class is shrinking nationally...one of the factors is that many middle class families have moved UP. Not just in CT...in every state.

[JViello]

Originally Posted by renovating

The middle class is shrinking nationally...one of the factors is that many middle class families have moved UP. Not just in CT...in every state.

True, but in CT most are moving "out" and it's shrinking faster than other areas.

Then again, "middle class" has so much ambiguity, you might consider middle class a family making 175K, living in a 500K+ house and having two big dollar euro cars in the 3 car garage.

I'm thinking more along the lines of HH income 75-100K, 3/2/2 home 200-300K at most, Ford and Toyota in the drive. <===THAT we are losing like crazy and there is not much room for here.

[MLabrosc02]

Trumbull, Monroe, Fairfield, may be out of your price range of $350K but take a look at the Huntington section of Shelton and White Hills section of Shelton as well. Taxes are much less, great neighborhoods. Someone would have to fill us in about the school system as I do not have kids. But from my recollection, elementary is good but high school is average for CT. Definitely areas to look into, especially in this market.

[renovating]

Originally Posted by JViello

True, but in CT most are moving "out" and it's shrinking faster than other areas.

Then again, "middle class" has so much ambiguity, you might consider middle class a family making 175K, living in a 500K+ house and having two big dollar euro cars in the 3 car garage.

I'm thinking more along the lines of HH income 75-100K, 3/2/2 home 200-300K at most, Ford and Toyota in the drive. <===THAT we are losing like crazy and there is not much room for here.

Actually, I think of middle class in the 40-95k range. And in the past year, CT's migration out has stabilized..."balanced" is what I read.

If CT's middle class is shrinking faster than other areas, then it is due to people moving up the ladder, not down. CT has one of the lowest poverty rates in the US.

You are right, middle class is ambiguous...I wonder if you really are referring to "working class" ? IMO, that is the group that has it the toughest here in CT...living here is a struggle for them. Outside of the "gold coast" there are many middle class towns.