[Raider111]

Originally Posted by richrf

My wife and I attempted to retire in the area to be near family in Metro NYC but have given up on our quest. There is simply nothing in the area that will meet ordinary retirement COL or lifestyle requirements and we have looked everywhere.

New Haven if probably the closest but I think you are frozen out of housing since I believe retired folk such as us are looking for walkable areas that are safe. My wife and I are use to using streetsmarts when walking having lived in NYC and Chicago but we are looking for a chance to relax from this type of stress as we grow older.

Right now we are investigating Silver Spring MD which moves us much further away from family than we would like but unlike CT has a very active community recreation program and lively downtown area that is more conducive to the retirement that we are looking for. CT is simply an extraordinary challenge for retirement.

Have you ever heard of boats, long island sound, fishing, sailing?
Have you ever heard of golf and tennis?
Have you ever heard of bicycles and riding them on trails or the road?
Have you ever heard of walking or jogging?
These are many of the things retirees do in CT for recreation.
I suppose if you just like walking around downtowns and drinking coffee, CT may be a little boring.

[willow wind]

OP- you will be fine in CT. Branford, East Haven, Wallingford have clean, attractive, walkable town centers. You'll find all your basic needs self contained in any of those towns.

As JayCT noted, there are many seniors living along the shore. Lots of CT people retire to the shore to be near the water & for the somewhat warmer, less snowny winters than inland.

The towns mentioned all have active senior centers and usually have senior shuttle buses in addition to income based senior housing should you ever need that.

Health care is excellent. Not only are these towns close to Yale New Haven Hospital in New Haven, there are satellite clinics should one not want or need to go into New Haven. Many Yale doctors also have a New Haven plus a shoreline office.

There are tons of activities, you just have to be open to them and to look for them. There is a shoreline newspaper that comes out weekly that you will get just by being a resident. It is jam packed with local news and loaded with info on upcoming local events.

All towns have open space lands with walking trails, etc. as do the adjacent towns . You'll have no problem finding outdoor activities.

Finally, it's safe. Sure there is the usual petty crime you'll find anywhere. But as a woman, using common sense, you don't have to worry about going out at alone during the day or at night.

[newerabuzz]

Most towns- if not all in Connecticut offer something called the 'Circuit Breaker' on property taxes for those 65 years of age and older. The household has to be within a certain income limit. The longer in your home the more the amount that is reduced on your taxes.

The upper limit for two people is 32K a year in income. I know for a person on a fixed income they can see their taxes reduced up to one third.

[northyankee]

how about where I as a retiree live in Black Rock near the water
its a small lovely inlet section of Bridgeport, Ct google Black Rock or
google realtor.com zip code 06605

Its a friendly waterfront community google St Marys By The Sea
great walking area and we have a new train station 5 minutes away



Id be glad to chat one evening

Claire

[cathb]

Thank you, everyone! So much encouragement. I am so looking forward to this move and it is great to hear these tips. Glad people are mentioning positive things about health care in the area. Haven't even gotten to that nightmare (choosing among the way too many supplement and advantage options)! I have much to look into thanks to the good people on this forum. Hope I can pay it forward someday.

[CTartist]

Originally Posted by cathb

I will be moving from Boston to south central CT (New Haven county) in a few months to be near my son and his family. I am a retired, active, single female with middle class means (divorce is cutting my income by huge amount), interested in a vibrant, affordable, lovely, walkable community. Love city life so New Haven has an appeal, but would rather not be in student-predominant area, and being single female, safety is a high concern. Have lived near Portsmouth, NH and Newburyport, MA and love that kind of town. I want to be within a half hour of Wallingford area. Will rent first to get my bearings and determine exactly where I want to live, but would love input, especially as to affordable, $900 - $1200 rentals, which I know might be difficult given the areas I am looking at. I've been reading this forum and of course people are all over the place with advice. Hamden, Wallingford, Guilford, and Branford all look interesting, though I realize offer a wide range of affordability. I am a yoga, hiking, outdoor enthusiast if that helps give a picture. I've paid attention to the New Haven neighborhood suggestions, but they either are heavily student population, or not in my price range. Guess I should stop so people can weigh in! Many thanks!

Hi,

My husband and I are looking into retiring to the area east of New Haven along the coast. We love being near beaches and boating etc. We are looking to buy a condo but since I am looking I also check out the rentals. Being you are single I would think you don't need a large apartment. I think you can find something along the coast east of New Haven in your price range.

My aunt used to live in Nashua NH so I have been to the Kittery outlets near Portsouth and have been to Newburyport also. I think I know the "feel" you are looking for and the coastline east of New Haven should get you close. You might want to contact realtors in some of the towns. They can give you advice on your budget. The realtors I have had contact with along the coast near New Haven are very nice and would be more than willing to help you out.

I would look into the area around the town enter of Branford. There are some senior condos right in the downtown area on Rose Street. There are other condos on Hamre Lane too. I remember my husband and I were taking a walk in the downtown area and we talked with people who lived in the Hamre condos and they like them. I do remember seeing rentals in these condos from time to time. I am pretty sure they are in your budget.

I found one on Rose Street for $925. The Hamre street condos rent for about the same price.

30 Rose Street, Branford, CT 06405 (MLS# N10013324) - Branford CT Real Estate - ColdwellBankerMoves.com

There are also a lot of 2 & 3 family houses that have apartments in the downtown area in your price range too.

[NedSage58]

Branford, east Haven, north Haven and Wallingford itself are nice places. East Haven is likely to be most affordable but as others have said, it is still a safe, working class area. I have always found East Haven to be underrated. Lots of ethnic eateries, and the closer you are to Main St, the more walkable the neighborhood to many things.

East Haven, while convenient, is not as aesthetically pleasing as Branford though. Aesthetics cost big in CT.

[CTartist]

Originally Posted by willow wind

OP- you will be fine in CT. Branford, East Haven, Wallingford have clean, attractive, walkable town centers. You'll find all your basic needs self contained in any of those towns.

As JayCT noted, there are many seniors living along the shore. Lots of CT people retire to the shore to be near the water & for the somewhat warmer, less snowny winters than inland.

The towns mentioned all have active senior centers and usually have senior shuttle buses in addition to income based senior housing should you ever need that.

Health care is excellent. Not only are these towns close to Yale New Haven Hospital in New Haven, there are satellite clinics should one not want or need to go into New Haven. Many Yale doctors also have a New Haven plus a shoreline office.

There are tons of activities, you just have to be open to them and to look for them. There is a shoreline newspaper that comes out weekly that you will get just by being a resident. It is jam packed with local news and loaded with info on upcoming local events.

All towns have open space lands with walking trails, etc. as do the adjacent towns . You'll have no problem finding outdoor activities.

Finally, it's safe. Sure there is the usual petty crime you'll find anywhere. But as a woman, using common sense, you don't have to worry about going out at alone during the day or at night.

Willowwind has given me great accurate advice and is most knowledgeable on the New Haven area and the coastline east of New Haven.

[CTartist]

A beautiful state park/beach (IMO it's the best one) is right in Madison and CT seniors get in for free.

DEEP: Hammonasset Beach State Park

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by newerabuzz

Most towns- if not all in Connecticut offer something called the 'Circuit Breaker' on property taxes for those 65 years of age and older. The household has to be within a certain income limit. The longer in your home the more the amount that is reduced on your taxes.

The upper limit for two people is 32K a year in income. I know for a person on a fixed income they can see their taxes reduced up to one third.

One person I know that gets a tax break is single and makes more than $32,000 per year. I believe their property tax is about half. That is a few thousand dollars. Jay