[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by anon860

By "denser inner areas," I include places such as West Haven, New Haven, and downtown Milford which are close to the VA.

DT Milford is at least 7 miles from the VA.

[anon860]

Stylo, the rates vary dramatically by neighborhood and block. You can compare the figures with those on the DPS website. There are many streets in New Haven, just as there are in the suburbs, that have not had any serious crimes for many years. It's great that you have anecdotes about your friend - I have anecdotes about many folks who have died or been seriously injured while driving on suburban roads. I have spent years living and/or working in Bridgeport, Hartford, West Haven, Stamford, New Haven, Boston, poor parts of Brooklyn, etc., and have never had any problems.

Kidyankee: Every mile driven results in significantly greater crash risk and death risk. The risk increases even more as you move away from dense areas, because speeds tend to increase. This alone is a good reason to have a short commute. Victimization rates vary far more by demographic group, and within neighborhoods, than they do between one town and any other town. In fact, the "other posters" you refer to were proven wrong. Even if you assume that crime impacts everyone equally, inner suburbs and cities are still many times safer than areas where you would have to drive a lot, because of the high crash risk per mile. Of course if you live in a city and drive 100 miles to your job you don't see this benefit. The "other posters" posted a crash map which has nothing to do with residential population or commuting distance: obviously there are more crashes along highways and in areas with high job density, as there are many, many times more commuters (cars) per square mile within those areas.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by anon860

Stylo, the rates vary dramatically by neighborhood and block. You can compare the figures with those on the DPS website. There are many streets in New Haven, just as there are in the suburbs, that have not had any serious crimes for many years. It's great that you have anecdotes about your friend - I have anecdotes about many folks who have died or been seriously injured while driving on suburban roads. I have spent years living and/or working in Bridgeport, Hartford, West Haven, Stamford, New Haven, Boston, poor parts of Brooklyn, etc., and have never had any problems.

Kidyankee: Every mile driven results in significantly greater crash risk and death risk. The risk increases even more as you move away from dense areas, because speeds tend to increase. This alone is a good reason to have a short commute. Victimization rates vary far more by demographic group, and within neighborhoods, than they do between one town and any other town. In fact, the "other posters" you refer to were proven wrong. Even if you assume that crime impacts everyone equally, inner suburbs and cities are still many times safer than areas where you would have to drive a lot, because of the high crash risk per mile. Of course if you live in a city and drive 100 miles to your job you don't see this benefit. The "other posters" posted a crash map which has nothing to do with residential population or commuting distance: obviously there are more crashes along highways and in areas with high job density, as there are many, many times more commuters (cars) per square mile within those areas.

There were 8.92 motor vehicle fatalities per 100,000 residents in the state of CT in 2010: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/departm.../9_CT_2010.PDF

New Haven's murder rate was 17.72 per 100,000 New Haven residents. Your odds of being killed are double in New Haven:Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

[andthentherewere3]

Originally Posted by anon860

Stylo, the rates vary dramatically by neighborhood and block. You can compare the figures with those on the DPS website. There are many streets in New Haven, just as there are in the suburbs, that have not had any serious crimes for many years. It's great that you have anecdotes about your friend - I have anecdotes about many folks who have died or been seriously injured while driving on suburban roads. I have spent years living and/or working in Bridgeport, Hartford, West Haven, Stamford, New Haven, Boston, poor parts of Brooklyn, etc., and have never had any problems.

Kidyankee: Every mile driven results in significantly greater crash risk and death risk. The risk increases even more as you move away from dense areas, because speeds tend to increase. This alone is a good reason to have a short commute. Victimization rates vary far more by demographic group, and within neighborhoods, than they do between one town and any other town. In fact, the "other posters" you refer to were proven wrong. Even if you assume that crime impacts everyone equally, inner suburbs and cities are still many times safer than areas where you would have to drive a lot, because of the high crash risk per mile. Of course if you live in a city and drive 100 miles to your job you don't see this benefit. The "other posters" posted a crash map which has nothing to do with residential population or commuting distance: obviously there are more crashes along highways and in areas with high job density, as there are many, many times more commuters (cars) per square mile within those areas.

That's an, um, interesting theory.

[atypicaljewel]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. And yes an area with good public education is key because she will be in school next year.

[PJ1252]

stay out of new haven and its surrounding areas - the place is a snake pit - they have day time shootings and just a lot of crime in general - north haven isnt bad, milford is very nice, hamden is all right and orange is also very nice - forget west haven for the most part its not a nice area - that goes ditto for east haven, also to get to east haven and branford you have to cross the q bridge - that is a nightmare at rush hour and not terrific at the other times of day also - you will never make your 30 minute time limit -

[Stylo]

Traffic risk != crime. Period. Irrelevant.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by atypicaljewel

Thanks everyone for the feedback. And yes an area with good public education is key because she will be in school next year.

Definitely consider Milford. The schools perform around the state average on the Connecticut Mastery and Connecticut Academic Performance Tests and there are many nice safe neighborhoods where you can find rentals. Orange is also very good but there are fewer rentals and they will likely be pricer. Jay

[Stylo]

CAPT aside (I put little weight on it), Foran is above average on many metrics, and K-8 is especially strong.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Definitely consider Milford.

I agree, but, the pickings will be pretty slim for a 2Br.@$1200 in Milford. It kind of leaves the OP with a choice of either Hamden or West Haven, IMHO.