[anyafloris]

Hello all!

I live in Chicago with my husband, and the amount of violent crime here is really getting to us.

His family lives in NY and Mass. My family lives in Mass. and NE CT (Putnam/Pomfret). We would ideally like to be no more than 2 hours from NE CT/Mass and no more than 2 hours from NYC..

We have been looking at New Haven... but the crime situation doesn't seem to be too great there, either. We love nature, and don't mind living in tiny nowhere as long as there's a farmer's market and lots of woods!

Unfortunately, we will need to rent and our budget is no more than 700/month.

Is this possible? Is New Haven that bad? If anyone has suggestions or any kind of wisdom, this is so much different than finding an apartment in Chicago!!

Thanks so much!

[7 Wishes]

To be honest, $700/month for even a studio is going to be tough anywhere between NYC and Boston outside of a "high crime" area. I actually thought the same could be said of Chicago.....

[anyafloris]

Unfortunately, that's sort of our predicament. Our area in Chicago was fine until summer rolled around, and there was a gun fight at 3pm down the block..

There are shootings every other day... and we don't even live in the 'bad' area.

Our other option is to find a 2 bedroom around/just outside of New Haven that my mother-in-law would split with us... In that case we could do 12-1400/month..

[RogerAnthony]

Try Naugatuck Valley towns such as Ansonia, Derby, Naugatuck, and Thomaston for places within your budget.

[kidyankee764]

You won't find a 1br for $700 in CT. If you can find a 1br anywhere for under 900, you don't want to live there. Your best bet is to find a 2br for 1200-1400ish, and split it. In that case, check out Hamden or Wallingford. The decent areas west of New Haven will be more expensive.

Originally Posted by RogerAnthony

Try Naugatuck Valley towns such as Ansonia, Derby, Naugatuck, and Thomaston for places within your budget.

But be careful where in Ansonia and Derby you look. Again, you can find decent prices, but they won't be in decent neighborhoods. Believe it or not, the nicer neighborhoods in Ansonia and Derby can get pricey. Where'd you come up with Thomaston? It's about 40 minutes north of the Naugatuck Valley. Affordable for sure, but a little depressed IMO.

[RogerAnthony]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

You won't find a 1br for $700 in CT. If you can find a 1br anywhere for under 900, you don't want to live there. Your best bet is to find a 2br for 1200-1400ish, and split it. In that case, check out Hamden or Wallingford. The decent areas west of New Haven will be more expensive.

Just because you are snobbish and don't want to live where you can get a one bedroom for $700 doesn't mean other people don't want there. There are plenty out there if you don't mind not having a zip code you can brag about at the country club.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by RogerAnthony

Just because you are snobbish and don't want to live where you can get a one bedroom for $700 doesn't mean other people don't want there. There are plenty out there if you don't mind not having a zip code you can brag about at the country club.

Hmm, wow. Where'd that come from?

Fact is, $700 bucks for a 1br will put you in a shady neighborhood in West Haven, New Haven, Derby or Bridgeport. These cities statistically aren't desirable. Numbers speak volumes, my friend.

So again, $700 won't get you much for a 1br in CT. You're looking at living in a lesser-desirable area. Fact.

[JayCT]

It is not about being a snob. The OP is looking for an area that would be safe for $700 per month. That will be very hard to do in the areas they are looking for. They can get the 2 bedroom though for $1,200 to $1,400 though. I would suggest Branford. Quiet and safe. Jay

[AnonChick]

Just as an FYI, New Haven is a pretty big city, with many "sections" to it. Some sections are crime magnets, some are pretty lazy and peaceful. Most are somewhere inbetween, with occasional car snatching, pot possession, and minor thefts being more common than the violent crimes found in the "bad" sections.

Although most would never even think of this as an option, you might look into renting an apartment in a 2-or-3-family house off Quinnipiac Avenue near Clifton (the west side of Fair Haven Heights near Grand Avenue), or the little section of town off State Street and Grand Avenue, on the way to Wooster Square. There's William Street - which you'd never know it if you didn't live there, but it's actually a pretty awesome little neighborhood. Definitely "inner city" but remarkably mundane. Last time I was there, it was a lot of portuguese and italians - an "after hours club" near the corner run by stern-looking men who tend to be attentive and defensive when it comes to protecting their neighborhood. I'd guess it's probably one of the safest places in the city to live, just because of that one thing. Assuming the club's still there. It's not the kind of place that has a sign outside

[Stylo]

There are definitely safe sections of New Haven, but you pay a premium for them. No way you're going to get even a studio at $700/month in any of those areas.

If you can split a house near New Haven and up your budget, I'd recommend sticking west of New Haven for access to NYC via Metro North - Milford and neighboring towns - Orange, Woodbridge. Branford is doable, but it does start to become a longer trip to the city. Unless it's non-rush hour - like on weekends - and you don't mind driving. But train from Branford or driving from Branford to New Haven for train is pushing 2 hours. Once you get up to Wallingford and North Haven, you're beyond the 2 hour envelope.