[CT_Yank]

Originally Posted by SailCT

If you only need to be in NYC a couple times per week do yourself and your family a favor and go further out where you can get waaay more for your money! From what I see best town with low prices, low taxes, great schools and both an Amtrak option (faster) and a commuter train option (slower / cheaper) is Old Saybrook, CT.

I am going to disagree with this advice simply because the OP is working at a start-up. His job situation could change very quickly and then he ends up having to commute to NYC 5 days a week. Absolute nightmare from that area. I know several people who thought they could always find good paying jobs in Stamford so moved way up line. Now, UBS is a shell, RBS is heading out, GE capital gone, Starwoods gone. Don't count on employment locally in CT. State is sucking wind and $125k jobs are harder to find. Really need doable commute to NYC. At $350k budget, stay in Harlem. If hellbent on CT then rent in Stamford until you really need a house. 1 kid is not a big deal. 2 becomes an issue.

[Henry10]

A lot of people equate Fairfield County with the towns along I-95 from Greenwich to Bridgeport, and don't realize that FFC extends some 60 miles north, up to Sherman. Towns not on I-95 have a lot less congestion.

Secondly, I am not even sure if I would call I-95 from Greenwich to New Haven "congested." Given than almost 2 million people live on this corridor of 5 lanes, which also carries a large volume of traffic into New England -- I-95 / MP should be a gridlock. But you can "brisk" through there at 20 mph.

[SeaDoo342]

Originally Posted by Henry10

A lot of people equate Fairfield County with the towns along I-95 from Greenwich to Bridgeport, and don't realize that FFC extends some 60 miles north, up to Sherman. Towns not on I-95 have a lot less congestion.

Secondly, I am not even sure if I would call I-95 from Greenwich to New Haven "congested." Given than almost 2 million people live on this corridor of 5 lanes, which also carries a large volume of traffic into New England -- I-95 should be a gridlock. But you can "brisk" through there at 20 mph.

I drive there on a regular basis.... even on weekends, 20 mph is not the norm.. it's usually stop, go, stop, go... so yeah, definitely congested!

[Henry10]

Originally Posted by SeaDoo342

I drive there on a regular basis.... even on weekends, 20 mph is not the norm.. it's usually stop, go, stop, go... so yeah, definitely congested!

It can be a lot worse... for example LIE-style parking lot.

[papafox]

Originally Posted by CT_Yank

I am going to disagree with this advice simply because the OP is working at a start-up. His job situation could change very quickly and then he ends up having to commute to NYC 5 days a week. Absolute nightmare from that area. I know several people who thought they could always find good paying jobs in Stamford so moved way up line. Now, UBS is a shell, RBS is heading out, GE capital gone, Starwoods gone. Don't count on employment locally in CT. State is sucking wind and $125k jobs are harder to find. Really need doable commute to NYC. At $350k budget, stay in Harlem. If hellbent on CT then rent in Stamford until you really need a house. 1 kid is not a big deal. 2 becomes an issue.

That statement is a bit over the top, don't you think?

There are plenty of high paying jobs (higher in proportion to FFC in terms of COL %) in the Hartford area. Otherwise, the affluent suburbs like Farmington, W Hart, Avon, Simsbury, Glastonbury, S Windsor would not be as well off as they are.

To solely depend on NYC for well paying jobs is asinine. And you really aren't that much better off there than the Hartford affluent suburbs, when you factor in the outrageous COL.

[BicoastalAnn]

Originally Posted by papafox

That statement is a bit over the top, don't you think?

There are plenty of high paying jobs (higher in proportion to FFC in terms of COL %) in the Hartford area. Otherwise, the affluent suburbs like Farmington, W Hart, Avon, Simsbury, Glastonbury, S Windsor would not be as well off as they are.

To solely depend on NYC for well paying jobs is asinine. And you really aren't that much better off there than the Hartford affluent suburbs, when you factor in the outrageous COL.

The OP has said he wants to be within 1 hr of GCT. It really depends on his industry and where that is concentrated. There might be tons of high paying job in Hartford but if they aren't in OP's industry, that doesn't help much. Like there's tons of high paying jobs in San Diego.... except if you're in tech, and then you should really be in SF.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Henry10

It can be a lot worse... for example LIE-style parking lot.

Huh? Do you regularly travel on 95? It can take hours to go from Greenwich to Bridgeport. The only thing I can think of that might be worse is the Cross Island in the city or maybe Van Wyck. Having lived in both LI and CT, the LIE is exactly the same as 95 in CT, except on a regular basis, CT's jams are 25 miles long while the LIE is about 15-20.

I think you need to experience both on a regular basis, because based on your above statements and comparison, it appears you do not.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Henry10

I-95 is a pleasure in comparison to LIE. At least, on most days I get to where I am going, usually the same day. For LIE, I have to buy a monthly garage pass to stay in it.

I'm not even going to address the nasty part of your post.

I don't need to see your monthly "garage pass". I experienced both. Just out of college, I worked in LI just off the LIE and commuted daily. It wasn't fun. I then commuter Shelton to Stamford daily, 2 miles longer than I did on the LIE. It regularly took me 30 minutes longer on 95 than the same distance on the LIE, on ramp to exit.

Anyone who says 95 in SW CT is a "pleasure" compared to even the Van Wyck is delusional.

[CT_Yank]

Originally Posted by papafox

That statement is a bit over the top, don't you think?

There are plenty of high paying jobs (higher in proportion to FFC in terms of COL %) in the Hartford area. Otherwise, the affluent suburbs like Farmington, W Hart, Avon, Simsbury, Glastonbury, S Windsor would not be as well off as they are.

To solely depend on NYC for well paying jobs is asinine. And you really aren't that much better off there than the Hartford affluent suburbs, when you factor in the outrageous COL.

OP wants to stay within NYC commute so not sure why Hartford matters. CT is one of poorest performing job growth states and lately, Stamford, as FFC business center, has taken some serious employment punches related to higher paying cos. You should try to find a job located in FFC that pays $125k and see what turns up. High FFC COL is the result of NYC period. 125k is chump money in the city. Sure, maybe health and insurance in Hartford area have good paying jobs compared to COL but that is not what OP wants. Stating facts about living in lower CT. I am not saying it is impossible but it is hard to land "equivalent NYC" pay in FFC right now.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by CT_Yank

OP wants to stay within NYC commute so not sure why Hartford matters. CT is one of poorest performing job growth states and lately, Stamford, as FFC business center, has taken some serious employment punches related to higher paying cos. You should try to find a job located in FFC that pays $125k and see what turns up. High FFC COL is the result of NYC period. 125k is chump money in the city. Sure, maybe health and insurance in Hartford area have good paying jobs compared to COL but that is not what OP wants. Stating facts about living in lower CT. I am not saying it is impossible but it is hard to land "equivalent NYC" pay in FFC right now.

Do you have anything to back this up? I ask because I know of several firms in lower FFC that are hiring like crazy, all which pay very well. Salaries are close to that of Manhattan, and there are so many city employees who make the reverse commute that several firms provide shuttle buses to/from the FFC office.