[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by JayCT

I really don't think there are any particular areas to avoid.

I have to disagree with this. There are many inexpensive neighborhoods throughout CT that I wouldn't recommend someone live in, due to criminal activity, proximity to railroad or highways, or lack of proximity to anything. I can name a few sections of towns, but that would inevitably start a board war.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

I have to disagree with this. I can name a few sections of towns, but that would inevitably start a board war.

If someone were to give specific sections, it shouldn't cause a "war". The warring typically occurs when someone throws out generalizations like, "Half of the town is a dump". I'll take someone to task for generalizations like that, especially if the person doesn't(and never has) live(d) anywhere near the areas that they're referencing.

[ct4life]

CT is a small state. How close to the beach do you want to be? I'd say it's more a matter of where your job is. Living in Central CT, the beaches are only 45mins away. You can pretty much be anywhere in the state and be "close" to the beach. But then, close to one person may not be close to another!

[Uconn97]

Originally Posted by Stratford, Ct. Resident

If someone were to give specific sections, it shouldn't cause a "war". The warring typically occurs when someone throws out generalizations like, "Half of the town is a dump". I'll take someone to task for generalizations like that, especially if the person doesn't(and never has) live(d) anywhere near the areas that they're referencing.

Agree 100%.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

I have to disagree with this. There are many inexpensive neighborhoods throughout CT that I wouldn't recommend someone live in, due to criminal activity, proximity to railroad or highways, or lack of proximity to anything. I can name a few sections of towns, but that would inevitably start a board war.

The OP's question was kind of broad. It did not ask for specifics, just any parts of the state to avoid. To me this did not mean parts of a particular town, rather that sould they avoid living in say northeastern or southwestern parts of the state.

After reading the OP's response, it is clear that they want to be near the coast and have a limited budget to spend. The New London area is the most affordable part of the coast. I would consider Old Lyme, East Lyme, Waterford or even Groton. Jay

[skel1977]

There are plenty of places to avoid in CT. Most not being towns but being areas inside the towns. Its not really any different in any other state though.

[pulpfiction]

THE place to be avoided: Fairfield County.

It's one of the snootiest areas in the country. People generally have a sense of entitlement that is about as obnoxious as it gets. Don't drive a BMW or make a 6-figure income? Only drive an Accord and make 50K? You simply wont fit in with most towns.

Forget about owning a home for <$800k unless you're okay with living in areas with subpar school systems (namely Stamford/Norwalk), or a complete ghetto (Bridgeport....and, no, "Black Rock" isn't anything special, either..)

Oh and the CONGESTION is P-A-T-H-E-T-I-C! I-95 is a complete joke, and will almost certainly never be expanded into the 14+ lane freeway with toll lanes that it SHOULD be. The Parkway is slightly better, but all the "NIMBY's" out there consider it some sort of historical landmark (c'mon its a ROAD, after all!), and will never allow it to be expanded, either (in spite of adequate right-of-way to do so). The other main throughfare, Route 1, is two lanes in most spots (1 lane per direction) WITH very frequent traffic lights, and is completely useless for bypassing the daily rush hour traffic jams. 95 is typically backed up for 25+ miles each afternoon (Greenwich-Bridgeport). Not even Los Angeles has traffic like that.

If you have to live in that are (presumably due to a job in NYC or thereabout), I'd go with Westchester (particulary the northern part..i-684 corridor)--just as expensive and snooty, but significantly less congested, or the Danbury area.

The Hartford area is very nice, as is Northeastern CT--much more affordable, and MUCH less congested. There's lots of nature up here, as well as a solid economy and access to most everything Fairfield County has.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by pulpfiction

THE place to be avoided: Fairfield County.

It's one of the snootiest areas in the country. People generally have a sense of entitlement that is about as obnoxious as it gets. Don't drive a BMW or make a 6-figure income? Only drive an Accord and make 50K? You simply wont fit in with most towns.

Forget about owning a home for <$800k unless you're okay with living in areas with subpar school systems (namely Stamford/Norwalk), or a complete ghetto (Bridgeport....and, no, "Black Rock" isn't anything special, either..)

Oh and the CONGESTION is P-A-T-H-E-T-I-C! I-95 is a complete joke, and will almost certainly never be expanded into the 14+ lane freeway with toll lanes that it SHOULD be. The Parkway is slightly better, but all the "NIMBY's" out there consider it some sort of historical landmark (c'mon its a ROAD, after all!), and will never allow it to be expanded, either (in spite of adequate right-of-way to do so). The other main throughfare, Route 1, is two lanes in most spots (1 lane per direction) WITH very frequent traffic lights, and is completely useless for bypassing the daily rush hour traffic jams. 95 is typically backed up for 25+ miles each afternoon (Greenwich-Bridgeport). Not even Los Angeles has traffic like that.

If you have to live in that are (presumably due to a job in NYC or thereabout), I'd go with Westchester (particulary the northern part..i-684 corridor)--just as expensive and snooty, but significantly less congested, or the Danbury area.

The Hartford area is very nice, as is Northeastern CT--much more affordable, and MUCH less congested. There's lots of nature up here, as well as a solid economy and access to most everything Fairfield County has.

I agree that 95 traffic rivals traffic on the 405 in LA. I have commuted both in recent years, and 95 is probably worse between Greenwich and New Haven.

That said, where the heck would you like them to add 12 lanes? SW CT is one of the most dense areas in the nation, and after the 100 years it would take to expand this freeway, traffic would be worse. If you build it, they will come. LA and ATL learned this the hard way.

Think about it logically for a few minutes. They would have to knock down everything along RT 1, tear up homes, goodbye downtown Darien, goodbye downtown Stamford, goodbye Greenwich Ave. Rerouting Metro North tracks is not easy either! It's not about the NIMBY's (well, maybe the RT 7 project is, but that's it). It's about LACK OF SPACE. It can't/won't happen.

Just because you didn't enjoy your time in FFC, doesn't mean we have to tear up the quality of life there to suit YOU. Your bitterness regarding FFC reeks of jealousy - but it is very easy to be jealous of the money over there, so I understand.

Oh, and FWIW, Danbury is just as much Fairfield County as Stamford/Norwalk/Bridgeport.

[pulpfiction]

Forgot to mention:

Yes, Fairfield County has some great schools (Westport, Fairfield, etc.) However, the schools in the rest of the state are excellent, as well (districts such as Glastonbury, West Hartford, and many smaller towns such as Woodstock, Hebron, South Windsor, etc etc etc). The cost of living in these towns are SIGNIFICANTLY lower than Fairfield County. Homes in the 250k range are pretty abundant once you're out of the lower portion of the state.

[pulpfiction]

Danbury, while part of FFC, is NOT anywhere near as congested/snooty as lower FFC. It is much more spread-out, much more affordable, and not nearly as congested as the towns closer to the coast. The surrounding areas (Newtown/Bethel/Brookfield) are semi-rural in nature, with tons of open space, and less of that "new yorker" attitude that you'd find in Greenwich or the like. Coastal FFC is non-stop density and manhattan commuters.

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

I agree that 95 traffic rivals traffic on the 405 in LA. I have commuted both in recent years, and 95 is probably worse between Greenwich and New Haven.

That said, where the heck would you like them to add 12 lanes? SW CT is one of the most dense areas in the nation, and after the 100 years it would take to expand this freeway, traffic would be worse. If you build it, they will come. LA and ATL learned this the hard way.

Think about it logically for a few minutes. They would have to knock down everything along RT 1, tear up homes, goodbye downtown Darien, goodbye downtown Stamford, goodbye Greenwich Ave. It's not about the NIMBY's (well, maybe the RT 7 project is, but that's it). It's about LACK OF SPACE. It can't/won't happen.

Just because you didn't enjoy your time in FFC, doesn't mean we have to tear up the quality of life there to suit YOU. Your bitterness regarding FFC reeks of jealousy - but it is very easy to be jealous of the money over there, so I understand.

Oh, and FWIW, Danbury is just as much Fairfield County as Stamford/Norwalk/Bridgeport.