[TheDraper]

Hello!

I need advice on which areas in Westchester County and Connecticut that could be a good fit for me, possibly. A single, gay black male. I'll be moving out there alone, without a support group. Nightlife, culture, or any sort of scene isn't important. I don't party much, but could do those activities in The City, and meet people/make friends. The cost of living isn't a deciding factor. I expect the rentals to be expensive in that region and I'm used to paying a lot of money per month for an average one bedroom apartment. Finding a place for under $1300 a month would be good though. I currently am interested only in certain cities in Westchester and Fairfield (CT) counties and not thinking of New Jersey as an option. Any additional suggestions or warnings are welcome. I'd rather steer clear of urban areas that have high crime rates. I don't have to live in a vastly diverse area. I know for sure that being sixty miles or less from Manhattan is important. I can deal with a lengthy commute, but won't want it to be much farther than that. I've narrowed it down to these locations below. Small populations are fine. Don't need to be in a larger town. Living close to a Metro Train station would be a boon. I wouldn't plan on driving into NY often or at all. Any input on this subject would be appreciated. I know little about this part of the U.S. Making a move to New England is on my agenda. I'm burnt out on living in CA. Also, wouldn't be opposed to residing in Providence, RI or Provincetown, MA. Or maybe some great town in Vermont or New Hampshire.

Westchester county:

1. Tarrytown
2. Peekskill
3. Rye
4. New Rochelle
5. Ossining



Connecticut (Fairfield county)

1. Norwalk
2. Bridgeport
3. Stratford
4. Danbury
5. Fairfield

I'm looking to switch gears in my career. Being based in the NY Metro area would be the smart choice, besides LA, which is a place I dislike. Traveling often to The City several days out of the week will be a necessity. I really would rather not live in one of the Burroughs. I'm unaccustomed to life in the Big Apple, it could be nice to leave the busy environment and have a more serene home life out in a surrounding suburb.

[banal]

You posted in the Texas forums. I highly doubt anybody here if familiar with Connecticut or Pennsylvania counties (unless they are a transplant).

[Raider111]

replace #2 with Stamford and remove Bridgeport.
#1 and the new #2 need to start at $1500/month though

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by banal

You posted in the Texas forums. I highly doubt anybody here if familiar with Connecticut or Pennsylvania counties (unless they are a transplant).

The OP means Westchester County in New York which borders Connecticut. Jay

[jax12479]

Kind of a random list for Westchester.... Ossining is a sleepy family suburb and Peeksill is a dump, so I'd replace those with Yonkers and White Plains. They're both closer to the city and more interesting places for a young single person.

[JayCT]

I am a little confused. Are you looking to work in Manhattan and commute into the city on a daily basis? You mention other areas that you cannot do that from like Provincetown and Providence. Also when you wrote Stratford, did you mean to write Stamford which is a totally different town?

I always recommend that you live as close to your job as possible. Why commute every day any longer than you have to? That said, southwestern Connecticut (as is Westchester) is one of the most expensive parts of the country. You will be hard-pressed to find a good 1 bedroom rent for $1,300 per month, but could likely get a modest studio. Also I would kind of want to know more about the type of community you are looking for. Stamford is the closest city to Manhattan where you can find a good number of rentals. If you give us more information on what you want, we could help you further find a place to look. Jay

[Stylo]

Unclear here too. You have to commute often into NYC, but you're getting a new job? Not sure I follow. If you have to be in NYC often, Greenwich, Stamford, and South Norwalk are all viable options.

[TheDraper]

Originally Posted by JayCT

I am a little confused. Are you looking to work in Manhattan and commute into the city on a daily basis? You mention other areas that you cannot do that from like Provincetown and Providence. Also when you wrote Stratford, did you mean to write Stamford which is a totally different town?

I always recommend that you live as close to your job as possible. Why commute every day any longer than you have to? That said, southwestern Connecticut (as is Westchester) is one of the most expensive parts of the country. You will be hard-pressed to find a good 1 bedroom rent for $1,300 per month, but could likely get a modest studio. Also I would kind of want to know more about the type of community you are looking for. Stamford is the closest city to Manhattan where you can find a good number of rentals. If you give us more information on what you want, we could help you further find a place to look. Jay

I put Stratford because I figured the rents would be less costly, since the mileage from NY city is farther. Is it correct that the rates decrease as you get away from NY more? I imagine that Stamford has higher prices. I've heard that Bridgeport is not favorable, but Trumbull is okay. It's more than sixty miles from Manhattan though. I'd be going there about 3-5 days a week for work, most likely. I'd rather not live more than 30-40 miles away, but will if need be. My limit is 60 miles from The City and that is the Bridgeport area or up in Putnam County north of Peekskill. I'll avoid any place that's a dump though. I hear good things about Tarrytown and Ossining. I heard that Danbury, CT is a good place too. I wonder if Darien is unsafe? I'd prefer not to ghettoize myself and live in a place that's gives one cause to worry a lot, because of high crime rates. A tiny, sleepy town is fine. I have a dull home life. I can get excitement in The Burroughs.

[TheDraper]

Originally Posted by Stylo

Unclear here too. You have to commute often into NYC, but you're getting a new job? Not sure I follow. If you have to be in NYC often, Greenwich, Stamford, and South Norwalk are all viable options.

I'd be moving indefinitely to the EC to get a job and go to school in Manhattan. I'd prefer to live somewhere in southwest CT or in upstate NY. I think that living in a burrough could overwhelm my pocketbook and shock my system. I'm a west coastian, and all that that entails.

Westchester would be up my alley, I believe. White Plains or Norwalk could be good. I am strongly considering one of the towns that are located in Westchester along the Hudson River. Sleepy Hollow, Ossining, Tarrytown, etc. I see that Yonkers, Mount Vernon, or New Rochelle are close to the Burroughs, but the danger factor could make those places undesirable options. I won't afford to live in an enclave where a CEO would reside, such as Greenwich, CT. I do want to choose wisely and not put myself in harm's way. I'm from a really dangerous place in CA, but I know it sparkles compared to say, Harlem or somewhere in Queens. Any suggestions on a decent town in the NY Metro area to relocate to would be appreciated.

[TheDraper]

Originally Posted by jax12479

Kind of a random list for Westchester.... Ossining is a sleepy family suburb and Peeksill is a dump, so I'd replace those with Yonkers and White Plains. They're both closer to the city and more interesting places for a young single person.

Thank you. I like that advice. The towns were a list of ones that people told me about. Or some that I saw on a map, that aren't far from The City, in terms of mileage. I'd rather be sixty miles or less from Manhattan. And preferably not far from a Metro Train station. Yonkers, Mount Vernon, or New Rochelle are close, but I believe the danger factor could make them not a great match. I don't really need excitement, prefer dull and sleepy. That's why I assume the farther out towns would be a better match. I'll deal with the lengthy commute, to have a somewhat serene home life.