[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by CTartist

My point of posting this was to show how expensive FFC is to live and that other areas are more affordable as they did not make the list. A multitude of posters on here say you need a minimum of $100,000 to live in CT and you do not. There are lots of choices in the New Haven, Hartford areas where you can buy a home in a nice neighborhood with good schools whereas in Stamford/Norwalk/Bridgeport there are not.

Kidyankee there are lots more choices in the New Haven area other than Milford/Orange/Woodbridge where you can get a nice house and good schools for a lower cost. And that is why it is not on the list of $100,000 and broke. You can be $80,000 and comfortable and that is why I will most likely end up in that area in retirement.

If you have any doubt just think about NEP's posts (and there were plenty) a SINGLE PERSON with no family lamenting the fact how hard he found FFC on $80,000.

As Jay said, this is more down county than up county. There is little difference in cost between Trumbull and suburbs of New Haven/Hartford/Waterbury. Retirement cost won't be much different in Branford than it would be in Trumbull.

It would be more accurate to refer to the area you're discussing as greater Stamford/Norwalk, as opposed to "FFC". Trumbull would not be included in that.

[CTartist]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

As Jay said, this is more down county than up county. There is little difference in cost between Trumbull and suburbs of New Haven/Hartford/Waterbury. Retirement cost won't be much different in Branford than it would be in Trumbull.

Ha, ha, ha. I can get almost 2x the condo for 1/2 the taxes in Branford and the cost of living is WAY lower.

Trumbull HH income: $114,194....Average House: $401,170
Branford HH income: $73,364.....Average House: $287,233
CT HH income Avg: $71,346....CT Average House: $270,900

Out of all the towns in the area only Madison $110,657 and Guilford $97,183 is close but there are many other towns I can dine, get groceries, get my haircut etc.

Here are other towns near Branford and their incomes. Do you really think the people in the towns near Branford can afford what the people in my area can?
East Haven: $63,243
North Branford: $81,494
North Haven: $86,508
Hamden: $66,208


Towns near Trumbull. Even though Easton does not have shopping just the fact that they border us makes shopping etc. more expensive.
Easton: $166,284
Monroe: $112,572
Fairfield: $110,601
Shelton: $89,119

Can you look at these numbers and still say there is little difference from one area to another?

[CTartist]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

As Jay said, this is more down county than up county. There is little difference in cost between Trumbull and suburbs of New Haven/Hartford/Waterbury. Retirement cost won't be much different in Branford than it would be in Trumbull.

It would be more accurate to refer to the area you're discussing as greater Stamford/Norwalk, as opposed to "FFC". Trumbull would not be included in that.

The statistical area is Stamford/Norwalk/Brideport. I did not make this up.

Look at this proposal for some new apartments in Trumbull. Go to page 39 and you see Bridgeport/Norwalk/Stamford MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area). When ever I see something that lists AREAS of the country I always see it as such.

http://www.trumbull-ct.gov/filestora...t_Analysis.pdf


I put the area of Stamford/Norwalk/Bridgeport right in my title, I does not say FFC just like the article I posted in post #1. They are using the correct statistical area.

Having written all of this I am not looking in Orange/Milford for retirement because that certainly is just a little less expensive but on the east side of New Haven everything changes.

[nep321]

Originally Posted by CTartist

My point of posting this was to show how expensive FFC is to live and that other areas are more affordable as they did not make the list. A multitude of posters on here say you need a minimum of $100,000 to live in CT and you do not. There are lots of choices in the New Haven, Hartford areas where you can buy a home in a nice neighborhood with good schools whereas in Stamford/Norwalk/Bridgeport there are not.

Kidyankee there are lots more choices in the New Haven area other than Milford/Orange/Woodbridge where you can get a nice house and good schools for a lower cost. And that is why it is not on the list of $100,000 and broke. You can be $80,000 and comfortable and that is why I will most likely end up in that area in retirement.

If you have any doubt just think about NEP's posts (and there were plenty) a SINGLE PERSON with no family lamenting the fact how hard he found FFC on $80,000.

Living as a single person with no kids off of $77K in lower FFC was very doable, as a RENTER, at least at the time I was living there. I'm sure prices are even higher now than they were two years ago. But the price of entry for homeownership was absolutely impossible, at least for my standards.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by nep321

Living as a single person with no kids off of $77K in lower FFC was very doable, as a RENTER, at least at the time I was living there. I'm sure prices are even higher now than they were two years ago. But the price of entry for homeownership was absolutely impossible, at least for my standards.

Which were VERY high if I remember correctly. Jay

[MrGompers]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

As Jay said, this is more down county than up county. There is little difference in cost between Trumbull and suburbs of New Haven/Hartford/Waterbury. Retirement cost won't be much different in Branford than it would be in Trumbull.

It would be more accurate to refer to the area you're discussing as greater Stamford/Norwalk, as opposed to "FFC". Trumbull would not be included in that.

Did you notice what was #1 on that list ? LOL

Irony train inbound on track 8.

[nep321]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Which were VERY high if I remember correctly. Jay

Not really. I wanted a small house on a small lot that requires almost no updating/improvements in a safe, quiet area and within a 25 minute commute to my job in Stamford.

But if I were to go back in time, I probably would have been a little more flexible with the commute restriction.

Regardless, nowadays, single family homes are primarily for double income households, so I accept the very real possibility that I may be renting for the rest of my life.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by MrGompers

Did you notice what was #1 on that list ? LOL

Irony train inbound on track 8.

It always gives me a laugh when people applaud rankings that support their agenda yet discard the ones that don't. Confirmation bias at its finest.

The above list is garbage. There is no way D.C. and greater Bridgeport/Stamford are more expensive than San Francisco. Additionally, you missed the part in my thread where I noted it wasn't "cheap" there, but for my money, I get way more enjoyment/amenities than I would here. But you also claim Hartford has a sizzling hot economy, which speaks volumes.

Done with the pot shots?

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Which were VERY high if I remember correctly. Jay

Enough. I can't believe I'm going to back Nep, but you know darn well at his salary, he couldn't swing a home by himself in the Stamford area. Maybe acknowledge that, instead of always pushing back when people are giving their experiences.

[SeaDoo342]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

It always gives me a laugh when people applaud rankings that support their agenda yet discard the ones that don't. Confirmation bias at its finest.

You may laugh at it.... I find it annoying...