[Vin100]

I live in Hartford as I work in the hospitals in Hartford and UConn. I live in Hartford because of the apartment provided by the hospital. I don't recommend you to stay in Hartford. However as others mentioned, Westend of Hartford is relatively nicer and safer area with some apartment options. Also it is at the border of West Hartford and blends with it. I know some IT and medical students who live in that area. The rents are also cheaper than West Hartford. I have surveyed West Hartford a lot before as I had been planning to move to West Hartford. Nothing beats the charm of West Hartford. There are apartment options in West Hartford too, though they may be slightly more expensive than Westend. Since you are single, you may get a one Bed room for 900-1200 $. I definitely do not recommend Middletown. I personally like Middletown and have gone to their down town area quite a few times, however, The main reason for not preferring is the commute distance. I feel there is no reason to commute 20-25 minutes one way everyday if you have nearby options available. Newington is another option though I personally don't like it due to not so good school district which is important to me. Farmington is a great area, has a lot of nature and greenery and apartment options. But most of the pats there are beyond route 4 which gets traffic jams during peak hours. I still will recommend you to look at options in West Hartford… it has all the good things with being very close to your work place. There are alts on Farmington Avenue which may be slightly expensive and also some good apartments on Oakwood avenue. MAny people living in multi family houses also rent but be careful, sometimes the insulation in those homes is not that good (perhaps because the homes are older in West Hartford) and you may end up paying more for heating.

[ctwhitechin]

We have sold our home in CT and currently renting in Middletown month to month till we can leave for warmer climes, unfortunately it is taking longer than expected. We have been in windshire terrace apts, it is safe, clean, and no issues so far. I work in bloom field ct and drive through west Hartford every day to get to work so commute is doable.

[mrgmrg]

I lived in the West End of Hartford for three years and I really liked it. It was about 5-7 minutes to Blue Back square and the other amenities of West Hartford, but less expensive. The area north of Farmington Ave. is safe and quiet. I'd call it an academic community--many students, professors, and administrators from UConn Law School, as well as UHart, live there. If you're not sending kids to the schools, it's a great place to live. I don't really know Middletown, so I can't compare one way or another.

One negative for the West End is most of the apartments are in older, Victorian-era homes (though there are also a number of apartment buildings, though these are largely older, too). This is a positive to me, but a negative to others.

[nathan1234]

Well everyone has been a lot of help. My new apartment will be in the west end of hartford. It is close to my work, has nice features and amenities, and has a great move in deal. I appreciate the help, and I must say im excited to see what connecticut is all about. God bless!

[EUPL]

West Hartford!

[ytlh]

I used to live in the west end of Hartford and liked the atmosphere there much more than what I saw in my few visits to Middletown. I don't have extensive experience with Middletown but then again some of the folks voting for Middletown probably haven't spent much time in the West End.

You can always move after a year if you don't like it and the West End also has the advantage of being super convenient for a job in West Hartford. There are a lot of young people in the West End.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Vin100

I live in Hartford as I work in the hospitals in Hartford and UConn. I live in Hartford because of the apartment provided by the hospital. I don't recommend you to stay in Hartford. However as others mentioned, Westend of Hartford is relatively nicer and safer area with some apartment options. Also it is at the border of West Hartford and blends with it. I know some IT and medical students who live in that area. The rents are also cheaper than West Hartford. I have surveyed West Hartford a lot before as I had been planning to move to West Hartford. Nothing beats the charm of West Hartford. There are apartment options in West Hartford too, though they may be slightly more expensive than Westend. Since you are single, you may get a one Bed room for 900-1200 $. I definitely do not recommend Middletown. I personally like Middletown and have gone to their down town area quite a few times, however, The main reason for not preferring is the commute distance. I feel there is no reason to commute 20-25 minutes one way everyday if you have nearby options available. Newington is another option though I personally don't like it due to not so good school district which is important to me. Farmington is a great area, has a lot of nature and greenery and apartment options. But most of the pats there are beyond route 4 which gets traffic jams during peak hours. I still will recommend you to look at options in West Hartford… it has all the good things with being very close to your work place. There are alts on Farmington Avenue which may be slightly expensive and also some good apartments on Oakwood avenue. MAny people living in multi family houses also rent but be careful, sometimes the insulation in those homes is not that good (perhaps because the homes are older in West Hartford) and you may end up paying more for heating.

I am not sure why you question the quality of schools in Newington. It is a nice middleclass town with schools that perform above the state averages on the Connecticut Mastery and Connecticut Academic Performance Tests. Jay

[NewJeffCT]

Originally Posted by JayCT

I am not sure why you question the quality of schools in Newington. It is a nice middleclass town with schools that perform above the state averages on the Connecticut Mastery and Connecticut Academic Performance Tests. Jay

Their schools also have one of the better music programs in the state, from what I've been told.

[purplesque]

We're in Middletown and love it- though we are non-white, married with a (new!) kid, and have zero interest in night life at this time. It's a nice, safe little city with plenty of things to do- nice places to eat, a decent downtown, things to do. And you can totally buy a place when you're ready to settle down. Good luck!

@TobinJ, which is the nearest beach from Middletown? I'd like to take my parents there for a visit, though the point of going to the ocean in 6 degrees F eludes me.

ETA: If I were young and single, though, I'd look in West Hartford. Even more restaurants/things to do/nightlife in my opinion.

[NewJeffCT]

Originally Posted by purplesque

We're in Middletown and love it- though we are non-white, married with a (new!) kid, and have zero interest in night life at this time. It's a nice, safe little city with plenty of things to do- nice places to eat, a decent downtown, things to do. And you can totally buy a place when you're ready to settle down. Good luck!

@TobinJ, which is the nearest beach from Middletown? I'd like to take my parents there for a visit, though the point of going to the ocean in 6 degrees F eludes me.

ETA: If I were young and single, though, I'd look in West Hartford. Even more restaurants/things to do/nightlife in my opinion.

The closest beaches on Long Island Sound would be Rocky Neck in East Lyme and Hammonassett in Madison. Take 9 South all the way to the end for both. Rocky Neck would be 95 North to Exit 72. Hammy would be 95 South to (I think) Exit 62.

Atlantic Ocean beaches would be beyond Rocky Neck - Ocean Beach in New London for one. Growing up in Cromwell, though, we'd always go a bit farther and go to Misquamicut, just over the border in Rhode Island. I think Hammy is a better beach than Rocky Neck for LI Sound beaches.