[NJ987654]

I've been to South Africa. As far as safety, CT is extremely safe to live in. Public schools can vary from town to town greatly. However, CT is known for top tiered schools and ranks high compared to other states. I would add Bethel and Newtown to your list. Both have good schools (Newtowns are probably a little better). Bethel has a walkable main street and a train to Stamford (approx 1 hour) and NYC. I suggest these towns because of your price range. You will find Stamford, Ridgefield, Greenwich, and some of the other towns to be too expensive. The closer to NYC (in commuter travel time, not in distance), the more expensive it is. I would look at some real estate listings on web sites. If you need an agent recommendation, direct message me and I will tell you who I worked with.

[arielmina]

I can only speak for Ridgefield since you mentioned it was one of the towns you were interested in. You can get a 4 bedroom, 2 bath in your price range though it will probably be pretty small and need updating. Typically in that price range will be smaller ranches and capes, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths etc. But it is possible in this depressed market to get a bigger house in that range.

I'd recommend your checking it out when you come to town because it does have the classic Main Street with restaurants and some bars and the schools are very good.

They do have some activities for older children, though I have 7 yr olds so I can't speak to what they are. I did grow up in Ridgefield and when I was a teen I was bored off my rocker, however I know they have made efforts to improve that situation since then

[nico7]

The top 20-30 public high schools in Connecticut provide similar academic education to good private schools; there is no religious component to public schools. Connecticut is among the best, i.e., it is consistently ranked #1-3 of 50 states for public education. Predictably, the best public schools coincide with high median income and usually high median home value/price and cost of living. However, living in a "low tax" town, which may provide no amenities, and paying for private school is almost always more expensive than paying high taxes in a town where your children attend an excellent public school, and you have good public amenities.

The cities (New Haven, Hartford, Bridgeport, Waterbury, ...) in Connecticut generally have poor public education.

There are some excellent private schools in Connecticut, the best of which is Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford. It is nationally regarded as a top private high school.

[yankeemom]

Regarding what teens do in these towns, as a parent of two teens, they complain that they are bored!! Seriously, it does depend what your kids are "into" as to whether a town will meet their needs or not. i.e. many Fairfield county towns (Ridgefield, Wilton, New Canaan) are very into sports and field competitive teams and premiere or club teams in sports that keep them very busy. Some examples are lacrosse (boys and girls), ice hockey and soccer. Kids into some of these activities are kept very busy.

Some kids are into theater and towns like Westport have programs that support and keep them happy. A few towns have teen centers (i.e Wilton, Westport, New Canaan) that offer music venues and other activities but it varies from town to town whether that is deemed "cool" or not.

In some towns there is a lot of wandering around and hanging out. Starbucks, movies, parking lots. This is very noticeable in New Canaan and sometimes in Wilton.

I agree with the suggestion to check out Fairfield. There are concerts there, shopping, a train into the city (and many teens begin going into NYC with friends by 15 or 16 for sporting events or shows) good public schools, a choice for private schools, good sailing. My own kids wish we had bought in Fairfield.