[Bull1]

My wife and I have been looking at places in Black Rock cause it seems like a very nice, cheaper area. Currently we are looking at a place on Ocean Ave. Is this a safe section of Black Rock? I like the whole area a lot, I just worry cause it is in Bridgeport. Any help would be great!

[Stylo]

It's all fairly safe.

[JayCT]

Ocean Avenue is only a couple of blocks from the Barnum Apartments. I generally recommend that people look to stay west of Ellsworth Street. Jay

[yankees28]

Are you looking to rent or buy?

[Bridgeport Rising]

I never really walk around that area. Bloodroot is close to there.

One thing I will say about Black Rock: Often people come to the CT board and post about not being able to make friends, everyone in CT is cold or reserved etc etc...

That is generally not true in this neighborhood. For example, Harborview market is reminds me of the tv show Cheers. The negative, taxes are high. That is the major drawback. The school isnt even the biggest drawback because black rock elementary has a ton of community support and I believe the school recently was granted funding to go k-8.

[Bull1]

We would be renting

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by Bridgeport Rising

The negative, taxes are high. That is the major drawback. The school isnt even the biggest drawback.

I disagree. While the mill rate is high, the actual real estate tax bill won't be that much disparate to the tax bill received in neighboring communities(Fairfield/Trumbull/Stratford) on a similar type of property. The lower valuation assessment in Bridgeport will pretty much mitigate the higher mill rate factor.

The schools though, are an entirely different story. The school system is far and away the biggest detriment to Bridgeport's success. I don't think the recent vote to hand over control of the Bridgeport BOE to the state will help much either. I think going to a voucher system would be the only way to effect real meaningful change to Bridgeport's education system.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by Stratford, Ct. Resident

I disagree. While the mill rate is high, the actual real estate tax bill won't be that much disparate to the tax bill received in neighboring communities(Fairfield/Trumbull/Stratford) on a similar type of property. The lower valuation assessment in Bridgeport will pretty much mitigate the higher mill rate factor.

I don't know, I found a house for $350,000 in Bridgeport, but the taxes were over $10,000 a year.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by mkiv808

I don't know, I found a house for $350,000 in Bridgeport, but the taxes were over $10,000 a year.

And what would a similar home in Trumbull/Fairfield/Stratford/Milford cost?

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by Stratford, Ct. Resident

And what would a similar home in Trumbull/Fairfield/Stratford/Milford cost?

Incredibly, it's still for sale over 18 months later:

110 Marcel St Bridgeport CT - New Home for Sale - MLS #98497098 - Realtor.com®

That same house would probably be $450k-$475 in Milford and Stratford, and a bit more in Trumbull, and even more in Fairfield. That said, the middle child of taxes of this group is Milford, and you're right - the payment is about equal all things considered. But it's always better to spend more on house vs. taxes.

(And the area that house in is not so hot, I loved the house in the listing before I saw where it was)