San Diego family moving to Connecticut. Norwich as a possibility? (New Haven: crime, house)

Cooler_King · 11-30-2008, 02:32 PM

We are family of three relocating to CT. Our daughter is 14. I will be working remotely so most of CT is open which is making out decision difficult where to live. We would like to stay within 30-45 min proximity to Hartford should I ever have to change jobs and would no longer be able to work from home.

We have visited Ellington, Somers, Stafford, Simsbury, Bolton, S Windsor, Vernon, Tolland, Enfield, Granby, W Hartford. We ran out of time to visit more towns. So far we like Ellington the best. Homes are bit more than our budget allows. We could go up to $360K for a home if we both work, but we are hoping to find something in the $250K-$300K range so my wife can stay home should we decide to have another child, which we are planning to do soon. With that said, do any CT natives have suggestions of towns for us to look into that doesn't cost a fortune and is safe too? We prefer rolling hills/farmland to thick wooded areas, we are not into big cities, we like towns that have an old fashion town center rather than strip malls, and good school system is top priority.

Somebody mention Norwich; the high school seems good and the homes affordable. Just not sure about crime there. The fact it is so close to the casinos worries me.

Thanks!

nico7 · 11-30-2008, 02:58 PM

Hi Cooler King. The towns up near the Massachusetts border offer a nice peaceful lifestyle and they are all safe places to live. Somers does have a state prison, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything unless you live right next to it. Schools in those towns range from very good (Simsbury, West Hartford, Ellington) to not so great. As for Norwich, I don't think it fits the description you give or your priorities.

For your price range, you could probably find something in Durham, Middlefield, or Wallingford that would appeal to you. Of those towns, I think Durham has the best public schools. These towns are roughly between New Haven and Hartford, which are both employment centers (if you should ever need that).

Rich Lee · 11-30-2008, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nico7

For your price range, you could probably find something in Durham, Middlefield, or Wallingford that would appeal to you. Of those towns, I think Durham has the best public schools. These towns are roughly between New Haven and Hartford, which are both employment centers (if you should ever need that).

NOTE: Durham and Middlefield comprise Regional School District 13.

nico7 · 11-30-2008, 04:47 PM

Rich, thanks for that correction. I always think of Coginchaug High School (http://www.rsd13ct.org/schools/crhs/index.html - broken link), which is located in Durham, but I forget that Middlefield uses it also.

FYI, the reason I mention those towns specifically is that they are full of the "rolling hills" landscapes, and are about 30 minutes from both Hartford and New Haven. I don't know much about Wallingford's public school system, but the town is home to Choate Rosemary Hall, probably the best private school in Connecticut (a top private school in the nation, in fact).

Cooler_King · 11-30-2008, 07:00 PM

nico7, thanks for the helpful info. I am curious what about Norwich didn't you think would match what we are looking for? The topography? Schools? Crime?
Thanks again.

nico7 · 11-30-2008, 08:44 PM

Norwich has a population around 40,000 and the town has gone through many cycles of feast and famine economically. It now has some run-down areas and some problems that are typical of small cities. Compared with every other town you listed, Norwich probably has more crime and more problems that accompany urban settings. It's not exactly a real "city," but it has some of the same troubles. There is a strong arts/cultural community in Norwich, and it does have plenty of things going for it. But I thought you were describing a more rural/suburban place with farmland and rolling hills. Except for West Hartford, the other towns you mentioned are suburban or "out in the country."

Stratford, Ct. Resident · 11-30-2008, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nico7

Norwich has a population around 40,000 and the town has gone through many cycles of feast and famine economically.

Good point. I would be leery of it because its' fortunes are somewhat too reliant upon Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods. There isn't a lot of employment diversity in that area of the state. Too many eggs in one basket.

nico7 · 11-30-2008, 09:39 PM

SCR: Yes, Norwich would benefit from some economic diversification. They are developing the arts, but that isn't always the fast road to financial self-sufficiency.

Cooler King: There are other towns along Route 2 that you might want to consider. Colchester, for instance, is very well liked by people who visit and/or move there. Lebanon is a rural town with a lot of charm and history (I don't know about their schools).

Cooler_King · 12-01-2008, 12:59 AM

Yes, I guess my wife & I are on the fence if we want to choose a rural setting or something a little more urban such as Norwich. I do like the older homes in Norwich and more access to arts & culture. I'm planning on taking a trip back out there in the next week or two and I will have to explore. I am adding Colchester & Lebanon on my list of places to see. Lebanon seems really nice.

CrissCT · 12-01-2008, 06:47 AM

We just relocated from San Diego to Connecticut, but are originally from the East Coast. We also looked at the Durham-Middlefield area, just weren't able to find the right house for us. We settled in Burlington and we love it here. It is rural, but if you are working from home it shouldn't be a problem - fits your criteria though of being in commuting distance to Hartford. We love the school - it is Regional School District 10 (combined with Harwinton). It has been a complete lifestyle change for our family but a positive one. Good luck to you!