[Qu4sar]

Thank you all for the suggestions. Really helped. Regarding diversity, I found this nice map that gives a good snap shot: The Racial Dot Map: One Dot Per Person for the Entire U.S.

[CTartist]

Originally Posted by Qu4sar

My family (wife and 5 kids) are moving from WI to New Haven area this summer and I’d like some recommendations on neighboring town to move to. Things that we’re looking for are:

Good schools
Suburban life (~1 acre lot, close to stores and restaurants, neighborhood feel, young families)
<30 min drive to New Haven
House price range $400-500k
Diversity

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I live in Trumbull but I am looking into east of the the New Haven area on coast for retirement.

Here is the problem with 1 acre lots and diversity. The towns with the larger lots are not diverse but they do tend to have the best schools. To get a balance of diversity and good schools I would go with these towns.....

My own town of Trumbull has great schools with 22% minorities. Plus we take in kids from other towns so our schools have more diversity. But here is the thing. The diverse neighborhoods are in the 1/2 acre zone and not the 1 acre zone. Trumbull has a mall so we have lots of shopping.
//www.city-data.com/city/Trumbull-Connecticut.html (scroll down to see "races in Trumbull")

Milford has 18% minorities and good schools. Milford is a great place for young couples. I have cousins in Milford and they moved there in their 20's. My cousin's kids did great in the Milford schools and all went to college. There is tons of shopping on the Route 1 plus Milford has beaches and a mall.
//www.city-data.com/city/Milford-Connecticut.html

Branford is east of New Haven on the coast and is an easy going beach town. This is the town I will probably retire to because IMO the people are really nice there and the schools are good. At 9% minority it does not have a lot of diversity but the people in Branford seem like they would be very accepting and you would not have to worry. There is not as much shopping as Milford and Trumbull so you would have to travel a bit to get a bigger range of stores.
//www.city-data.com/city/Branford-Connecticut.html

Shelton has 14% minorities but then again there really isn't a lot of diversity in the Huntington area where the larger lots are. There is some shopping on Bridgeport Avenue but many people also go to the Milford and Trumbull malls also which is about a 20 minute ride to both. The schools are good.
//www.city-data.com/city/Shelton-Connecticut.html

I personally don't know about Wallingford but I see people talking about it on this site as a good place for young couples. It has 14% minorities and I seem to remember the schools are good. You would have to get more info from the people on this site about Wallingford.
//www.city-data.com/city/Wallin...nnecticut.html

Good Luck on your search.

When I think of some more towns I will update this list.

[Qu4sar]

What are peoples thoughts on Hamden?

[synchem]

Originally Posted by Qu4sar

What are peoples thoughts on Hamden?

It's diverse, can get a acre lot that isn't too far from all the shopping on route 10. But schools are mediocre, and taxes are very high. Mill rate will be going up to close to 50 due to funding healthcare/pensions. So you can get everything you want except for the good schools (you didn't list taxes but those will be high for property and vehicle).

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Qu4sar

What are peoples thoughts on Hamden?

Extremely high property taxes. Poor schools. I’d say avoid.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

Extremely high property taxes. Poor schools. I’d say avoid.

Agreed. There's a lot I like about Hamden, but wouldn't advise buying there at this point. Especially with the massive tax increases.

[CTartist]

Originally Posted by Qu4sar

What are peoples thoughts on Hamden?

My aunt has lived there for over 20 years. The taxes are going sky high and the schools are not good. My cousin used to live there. My cousin sold her home and moved to North Haven.

[JayCT]

I have to agree with the others. There are better choices than Hamden especially in your price range. Schools in Hamden struggle and taxes are high. The Spring Glen neighborhood is pretty but not nice enough to make buying there worth it if good schools are important. Jay