[htfdcolt]

We are trying to choose between West Hartford and Rocky Hill as communities to relocate to. I am somewhat familiar with West Hartford from a recent weekend trip, and will be visiting Rocky Hill this weekend. A few questions:

• Any thoughts on the weekday commute time between Rocky Hill (areas near I-91) and I-84 Exit 37? Any known bottlenecks or slow spots?
• What are the resale values like in Rocky Hill for young homes...i.e. is there a lot of new building planned?
• How common are sidewalks in this area, and access to bike trails?

Any other thoughts/comparisons between the two towns would be appreciated. Thanks!

[glxyman21]

Rocky Hill is a nice town. It is more suburban than West Hartford which is more densely populated and has an urban type downtown. If you're looking for a newer type house and a bit larger yard, Rocky Hill is the way to go. West Hartford has a lot of older housing and a lot of small lots.

Crossing from 91 to 84 from either direction is going to be somewhat of a bottle neck during high commute times. If commuting from Rocky Hill to exit 37 off I-84 I suggest going through Rocky Hill to Berlin(forget the name of the road) but it eventually crosses the Berlin Turnpike and just continue and catch Rt. 9 in Berlin.

Rocky Hill has more newer construction which is still continueing. As with many of Hartford's suburbs, this new construction consists mainly of colonials in the $450,000-$500,000 range.

Sidewalks are definatly common in West Hartford, maybe a bit less in Rocky Hill, but most newer neighborhoods require them to be built.

[JayCT]

Exit 37 off I-84 is Feineman Road in Farmington. There are many offices in this area. The commute to this location would be easier from West Hartford since it is the next town over from Farmington. You may not even need to get on a highway to get there.

From Rocky Hill, you would need to travel back roads across Newington to catch Route 9 to I-84. This is not bad but would take longer. Without traffic it is about 25 minutes, with traffic a bit longer.

Rocky Hill is a maturing suburb which means it is developed but there is still some new construction. West Hartford is a mature suburb which means it is almost fully developed. I do not think that there are a lot of sidewalks in Rocky Hill and if there are, they are mostly limited to the neighborhood you are in. West Hartford has an extensive network of sidewalks. You could pretty much walk from one end of the town to the other without having to walk in the road.

As for resale of homes, both towns are desirable and homes will sell well there. I think West Hartford though is considered to be a bit more desirable (it is one of the most desirable towns in the greater Hartford area) and given the popularity of its downtown, I believe a well located home there will sell a little easier than a similar home in Rocky Hill. JMHO Jay

[sun]

The commute from Rocky Hill to Finneman Road should be fairly easy. Hop onto I-91 south to the Route 9 north expressway in Cromwell, which branches off as the Route 72 west expressway right in downtown New Britain to I-84 east, and it's the 1st exit off I-84 east, and it only takes about 15 -20 minutes.
You'll be on the highway the whole time.

[htfdcolt]

To all who responded: many thanks! We stayed at a hotel in Rocky Hill this past weekend, drove through some subdivisions, and also simulated the commute. Overall, really fit my idea of a traditional suburb, vs. what we saw of Farmington the previous weekend.

So far though, my wife is leaning toward the (more expensive) West Hartford...the walkability of the neighborhoods and the general feel of the area are quite appealing!

[JayCT]

rajmelk - You can't go wrong with any of these towns. They are all considered very good. I must agree with your wife though, West Hartford has a lot going for it and is worth the extra expense when considering how short your commute would be. Good luck with your decision and let us know if you have any other questions. Jay