[trooper638]

Since you are coming from out of state, I'm glad that you are doing your research. You need to combine your research with a REALTOR familiar with that area. Your company Relocation department should be able to help you to obtain that. If your company does not have a Relocation Dept, let me know. Personally, I am not very familiar with the area's mentioned as I target more of the Fairfield/New Haven County shoreline. However, I can help you to locate a specialist in that area. Best of luck on your move.

[allyjax13]

Originally Posted by StckFigure

Our budget target is in the 240-270 range. Our overall goal is at least 3 bedrooms/2 baths with a comfortable amount of living space, a fenced (or fence-able) yard, and a 2-car garage, with location parameters as above. My job in Middletown is going to be off 9, at Wesleyan. I've heard that, although the schools aren't great, the New Britain area right around Stanley Park/Golf Course is nice at least in terms of safety. Not for living, necessarily, but is downtown NB safe to walk at night (especially around the library?) Also, how do the prices of private schools (day care and elementary especially) compare to the rest of the country... specifically, what would be a good recommended private school in that area, and do you know the approximate tuition rate?

Just to let you know, I went to New Britain Public Schools and I don't think I am any worse off than West Hartford, Farmington or even Avon counterparts. If anything, I feel the diversity New Britain has to offer gave me a leg up when dealing with diversity and adversity in the real world. NB has 10 public elementary schools and some are better than others. The three middle schools are equally good and the high school offers an honors track and 13 AP classes as of when I graduated in 2006. This number has likely only grown since then, but even back then, 13 AP classes being offered was impressive even for surrounding town schools too.

In terms of neighborhoods, there's the "Belvedere section" which is near Stanley Quarter Park and CCSU which is nice with charming older houses. The West End also has very nice homes, and if you're interested in more modern homes, the neighborhoods behind Pulaski Middle School and Holmes Elementary near Dorman Drive and Cianci Rd are safe too. (Both of these schools I mentioned I attended)

The media and test score averages for New Britain aren't the same as surrounding suburban towns, but you also need to remember they're only averages and the large proportion of "english as a second language" students makes getting high test score averages difficult.

I guess it all depends on how you determine what a good education is. If you think cultural and socioeconomic diversity is equally important to you as academic achievement, then New Britain is an excellent school system. I know it served me very well and going to college, I was much less sheltered than many fellow students.

Regardless, I would thoroughly personally check out any place you're interested in. Don't listen to others opinions because their justifications may be vastly different than what is of priority for you.