[ryanthegoldengod]

Originally Posted by ProudFairfielder

Wow thanks! Love to see the #1 in its rightful spot
Madison at #2 and Guilford at #3 are no shockers to me. Old Saybrook makes sense with how popular it is in the tournament, but for me personally it's like #8 or 9 I think.

The suprises:
- Go Milford! I had no idea it was that highly ranked. But it deserves it with its beaches and amenities.
- I'm shocked to see Branford only at #10. BGM charm but it also is closest to New Haven and has more amenities itself. For me it's easy top 5
- Additionally I'm shocked that Litchfield is so competitive (beating Westport, East Lyme, Essex, etc). It's beautiful, obviously, but wow!
- I'm shocked WeHa is so low! Only 15, but (more crazily to me), losing to Farmington and Glastonbury?
- I'm sort of surprised Stamford is so high (due to its perceived lack of character), but I guess it makes sense given the city's success and insane NYC proximity (along with North Stamford).
- Finally how in the world is Wallingford above Kent?

West Hartford has lots of amenities. Per capita, it seems like the restaurant capital of the world. But to me it's not a particularly beautiful town. Too congested. Parks are kind of mediocre. The reservoir is kind of nice but that's it. Glastonbury has many of the same amenities but it's more beautiful. Nice park on the river. Nice farms. I would also say people seem a little more down to earth. I know both towns have a reputation for snootiness but I think it's much worse in WeHa. GBury still retains a certain east of the river character--even if it's of the more upscale variety.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by ProudFairfielder

Wow thanks! Love to see the #1 in its rightful spot
Madison at #2 and Guilford at #3 are no shockers to me. Old Saybrook makes sense with how popular it is in the tournament, but for me personally it's like #8 or 9 I think.

The suprises:
- Go Milford! I had no idea it was that highly ranked. But it deserves it with its beaches and amenities.
- I'm shocked to see Branford only at #10. BGM charm but it also is closest to New Haven and has more amenities itself. For me it's easy top 5
- Additionally I'm shocked that Litchfield is so competitive (beating Westport, East Lyme, Essex, etc). It's beautiful, obviously, but wow!
- I'm shocked WeHa is so low! Only 15, but (more crazily to me), losing to Farmington and Glastonbury?
- I'm sort of surprised Stamford is so high (due to its perceived lack of character), but I guess it makes sense given the city's success and insane NYC proximity (along with North Stamford).
- Finally how in the world is Wallingford above Kent?

In the greater Hartford area, it’s pretty much agreed that there are five top tier suburbs: West Hartford, Farmington, Avon, Simsbury and Glastonbury. It is arguable which is best. West Hartford is great but ts not for everyone. While it’s diverse and has a great town center, it’s also sort of urban and can be noisy. Though it has excellent schools, amenities and services, taxes are high.

Avon is the most affluent of these towns which can be good and bad. Farmington is more middle class, has good schools and lower taxes but it also can be hard to get to with significant traffic congestion. Simsbury is also great with good schools and beautiful quite areas. All three of these though are in the Farmington River Valley which is hard to get to from major employment centers.

Glastonbury has much of what the other towns do (good schools, diversity, nice town center, beautiful quite neighborhoods, etc,.) but is a bit more accessable with Route 2 taking commuters directly into downtown Hartford. It’s also not far from I-91, I-84 and I-384 so it offers good access to most of greater Hartford. It’s all this that helps give it an edge in rankings. Jay

[SteveM85]

Originally Posted by Danny K

Darien is not really that special of a town to be honest with not a lot to offer. The only thing it really has going for is that it is arguably the second ritziest town in CT after Greenwich. People in Darien are extremely prideful and look down on the middle and working class people. Extremely unfriendly residence, and not welcoming at all. Downtown is very ordinary and beaches are mediocre at very best. I'd say that is mainly why it is not that popular and doesn't get a lot of love on here.

Much of the same things can be said about Greenwich, but at least Greenwich is a lot bigger in size and does have some beautiful and pretty areas. Also beaches are definitely better there than Darien. Downtown is a little better there as well, and while much of the residence are unfriendly in Greenwich too, it is a little more diverse of a town, and has more to offer and more going for it. Although Greenwich is still not as popular as one might expect it to be on here.

Originally Posted by Stylo

On paper it’s a great town. Amazing schools, proximity to NYC, walkable downtown, coastal, safe.

For me it’s just kind of a generic wealthy east coast town. There’s nothing particularly charming about it, the downtown is very nice but also could be literally any upscale downtown in America, and the coast is not very accessible.

My opinion on the attitudes and the people in the town, I will keep to myself.

Have you fellas actually ever lived in Darien? or is that just throwing the stereotype stones. I mean actually live there, as in getting to really know people whether it be neighbors, through kids schools and the like, not just "well I worked there once and encountered a few people while out to lunch" or "I heard about it".
It's actually welcoming and unwelcoming as Fairfield and Milford.
Many middle and working class aren't without their faults in terms of attitudes and rude behavior. Its been duly noted here on the CT Forum how their teenaged offspring behave in malls (ie Milford). The apples don't fall far from the trees.

[Danny K]

Originally Posted by ryanthegoldengod

West Hartford has lots of amenities. Per capita, it seems like the restaurant capital of the world. But to me it's not a particularly beautiful town. Too congested. Parks are kind of mediocre. The reservoir is kind of nice but that's it. Glastonbury has many of the same amenities but it's more beautiful. Nice park on the river. Nice farms. I would also say people seem a little more down to earth. I know both towns have a reputation for snootiness but I think it's much worse in WeHa. GBury still retains a certain east of the river character--even if it's of the more upscale variety.

I definitely agree, although I have never experienced any snootiness that I remember in either of those towns though. Many working class people live in both towns, and they are much more affordable than the NYC metropolitan area of Fairfield County.

[Danny K]

Originally Posted by SteveM85

Have you fellas actually ever lived in Darien? or is that just throwing the stereotype stones. I mean actually live there, as in getting to really know people whether it be neighbors, through kids schools and the like, not just "well I worked there once and encountered a few people while out to lunch" or "I heard about it".
It's actually welcoming and unwelcoming as Fairfield and Milford.
Many middle and working class aren't without their faults in terms of attitudes and rude behavior. Its been duly noted here on the CT Forum how their teenaged offspring behave in malls (ie Milford). The apples don't fall far from the trees.

Steve, No I have not lived there, but have been there a number of times for business. I have heard a lot about snootiness there on this forum, and plus I have experienced it a bit myself. Almost any time I go into a shop or restaurant and have a short conversation with staff there, they ask where are you from, and I tell them Fairfield, and then they start saying Fairfield is for the lower middle class people, we here at Darien are the rich and upscale people, or something similar to that. I'm like, seriously guys? Why are people there very prideful about their salaries or rich style of life? It is absolutely unbelievable.

I have had this happen to me a quite a bit in Greenwich as well, but overall Greenwich is way more diverse than Darien and while most of it is probably slightly even more upscale than Darien, I feel the diversity makes people a little more friendly towards others, and while there is still a lot of pride there, at least in my experience they are more quiet about it and don't brag out loud so much.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by SteveM85

Have you fellas actually ever lived in Darien? or is that just throwing the stereotype stones. I mean actually live there, as in getting to really know people whether it be neighbors, through kids schools and the like, not just "well I worked there once and encountered a few people while out to lunch" or "I heard about it".
It's actually welcoming and unwelcoming as Fairfield and Milford.
Many middle and working class aren't without their faults in terms of attitudes and rude behavior. Its been duly noted here on the CT Forum how their teenaged offspring behave in malls (ie Milford). The apples don't fall far from the trees.

I didn’t say anything about the people. I have several friends and colleagues in Darien.

As far as Milford mall teenager bad behavior, very few of those kids are from Milford...

[Danny K]

Originally Posted by Stylo

As far as Milford mall teenager bad behavior, very few of those kids are from Milford...

Is there any even any Mall in the country where you won't find this? I have shopped at so many malls not just in the state but in the whole country, and there are always very mischievous teenagers here and there getting into things they shouldn't, LOL.

[SteveM85]

Originally Posted by Danny K

they ask where are you from, and I tell them Fairfield, and then they start saying Fairfield is for the lower middle class people, we here at Darien are the rich and upscale people.

Gimme a break Dan

[SteveM85]

Originally Posted by Stylo

I didn’t say anything about the people. I have several friends and colleagues in Darien.

As far as Milford mall teenager bad behavior, very few of those kids are from Milford...

Doesn't matter. The attitudes and behavior of some middle and working class can be just as offputting as rich snobs.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by SteveM85

Doesn't matter. The attitudes and behavior of some middle and working class can be just as offputting as rich snobs.

No one would argue that. I prefer dogs generally.