[ChrissieWatkins]

Try South Norwalk. Your money will go further there than in Stamford, many great restaurants, relatively easy to get into the city by train. For Fairfield County it's not terribly suburban.

[DanDOne]

First things first!

Thank you to everyone who responded: ctwhitechin, jviello, JayCT, mkiv808, 7 Wishes, trishguard, dazzleman, AnonChik, ChrissieWatkins

More than that, I am most grateful for the fact that you went through my entire (not so small) post and made great recommendations. It is most appreciated!

(I was off with family for the weekend, and didn't have the opportunity to respond, I'm normally not THAT rude )

[DanDOne]

JViello, I have not heard of Handen, but I will lok into it, and post back here.

7 Wishes, I am not exactly in downtown Brooklyn right now as is, and we are on an "aggressive saving" spree, if that makes sense. By that I mean, we'd rather not put down 2k+ a month in rent alone. In our present situation, Stamform seems to be equally expensive as where we are right now, a smidge more so even!

mkiv808, thanks very much for your post. Quite correct in the (a) near a train station, and (b) commuting by car parts.

JayCT, mkiv, dazzleman and Anonchick, you recommend, among others, New Haven and Bridgeport. Forgive my ignorance, but I have been led to believe that fair bits of these areas have a rather high violent crime rate. Now as always, crime is everywhere and can hapeen to anyone at any point. I just wanted to put my concern out there for a realistic feedback. If this is the case, which areas should I avoid?

Once again, thanks all!

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by ChrissieWatkins

Try South Norwalk. Your money will go further there than in Stamford, many great restaurants, relatively easy to get into the city by train. For Fairfield County it's not terribly suburban.

IMO South Norwalk is too expensive for someone that's only going to NY a few times a month, and kind of far to Boston.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by DanDOne

JayCT, mkiv, dazzleman and Anonchick, you recommend, among others, New Haven and Bridgeport. Forgive my ignorance, but I have been led to believe that fair bits of these areas have a rather high violent crime rate. Now as always, crime is everywhere and can hapeen to anyone at any point. I just wanted to put my concern out there for a realistic feedback. If this is the case, which areas should I avoid?

There are good, mediocre and bad sections of each city. It's easier to list the good:

Bridgeport:
North End
Black Rock

New Haven:
East Rock/Whitney
Downtown
Wooster Square
Westville

The WORST neighborhoods to be avoided are East Side and East End in Bridgeport, and Newhalville, Fair Haven and The Hill in New Haven. Most of the crime in those cities happens in those places.

If safey is your utmost priority, I recommend looking at towns like Fairfield and Milford, as there are no dangerous sections at all and they are on the train line.