[tresperros]

My husband and I are thinking about relocating from AZ to CT. Family lives on Shoreline, but was wondering about Shelton?? Looks like it is on the water( river) and seems to pretty reasonable. Pros Cons?

Catherine

[JayCT]

Shelton is a small city located on the western bank of the housatonic River. It was once the home of a number of mills and factories but in recent years the factories have moved out. About 30 years ago, the Route 8 expressway connected Shelton to the Merritt Parkway and I-95. Soon after that, Shelton was discovered as an affordable alternative to the rest high-priced Fairfield. Soon large homes and condo complexes started being built in the undeveloped sections of the city. The Huntington section of Shelton is very nice. So is White hills. Bridgeport Avenue (the old Route 8) became a commercial corridor and a LOT of office buildings and commercial centers started being built.

Prior to this time, Shelton was considered to be a poorer community in affluent Fairfield County. Schools and public amenitites were not kept up to Fairfield County standards and the city was looked down upon. With the development there in the last 30 years though, it is hard to look down on it anymore. Schools have been improved, parks and public buildings are being better maintained and the city is trying to develop a more upscale feel to it.

The river front from downtown Shelton south to Stratford is sort of a mix of commercial and industrial and is not that nice looking. North of downtown it gets nicer and the there is a nice riverfront State Park called Indian Wells. The city has purchased one of the old factory sites and is planning a riverfront park there as well. There are also plans to build a large apartment and commercial complex there. This should help to improve downtown a lot. While Shelton has improved, it does lack much of the charm of coastal Connecticut. I hope this helps. Jay

[tresperros]

Thanks! Very informative--seems as though Shelton is going through a transition stage( much like New London CT??). I would love to be able to live on the Shoreline, or in the CT River Valley, but it seems as though the prices are a little steep.

Being from Phoenix, I am not concerned about cities in transition, as Phoenix has been in transition for quite some time now! Any other suggestions for places to live? Another thought was Litchfield CT, but it seems it is really far away from things

[skytrekker]

New London and south eastern CT -even near the shore will have cheaper housing prices then Shelton. Waterford, Groton, and inland to Norwich are very reasonable. Norwich is similar to Shelton- as being a city (pop.38,000) which is slowly on the upswing.

Also consider the counties of Tolland and Windham in eastern CT. Towns such as Coventry, Bolton, Willington, Marlborough, Hebron all offer affordable housing in a quiet semi rural atmosphere. Further east into Windham county, Putnam, near the Rhode Island border is very reasonable cost wise- and is about 30 miles to both Hartford and Providence, and about an hour to the ocean.

[JayCT]

Hartford is about 45 miles from Putnam and would take well over an hour because there are no major highways between the two. Providence is about 30 miles from Putnam, but that oo is over back roads and would take at least 45 minutes or more depending on traffic. Jay

[skytrekker]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Hartford is about 45 miles from Putnam and would take well over an hour because there are no major highways between the two. Providence is about 30 miles from Putnam, but that oo is over back roads and would take at least 45 minutes or more depending on traffic. Jay

Jay

I used to travel from Vernon to Providence on a regular basis- it took me about 65-70 minutes- I could easily Travel from near Putnam to Providence in about 30 minutes, not 45 minutes as you claim.

I made this trip several times a month- so I know of what I speak.

Also, They are not 'back roads'- as you also claim. Interstates no- but US 44 and 101 are well lit and well maintained roads.

Also my screen name is skytrekker not skytrakker.

[JayCT]

skytrekker - Did not mean to question you, but these are not major mulit-lane roads and with traffic they can be slow. I have traveled them too and found that depending on the time of day, you will hit traffic particularly toward Providence.

30 miles in 30 minutes means you have to be doing at least 60 miles per hour the whole trip and I do not think that is the speed you will travel even when there is little traffic. Maybe that is just me.

Also, sorry for the typo. I must have hit the "a" instead of the "e' by mistake, but I don't see where I did that on this thread. Jay

[skytrekker]

Jay

I have traveled that distance at night from Providence to Vernon in 75 minutes- daytime less-and did it for over 10 years.


I never really hit that much traffic near Providence either- as I hit US 6 just outside of Providence which is a freeway.

I have never found the traffic to Providence or back to Vernon a problem- since I would catch I 84 in Willington.

In any case the OP never really specified much about what part of the state they where truly interested in.
I would assume they mentioned Shelton because they have relatives in Fairfield county or New Haven.

I try and present information about other areas of the state, and provide other options. Some will not mind the commute, especially those coming from the far west.

[jumper]

My best friend moved from NYC to Shelton 4 years ago with his wife and 3 children. He really likes it there, and it very upbeat on it's present AND future.
He just raves about the planning that has gone into the rejuvenation of the area.

[tresperros]

Thanks Jumper. Do youmind me asking the ages of your friends? My husband is 38 and I am 30, no children yet. Just curious to know the demographic