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First off, proximity to New York. Also, parts of NJ are extremely close to Philly, and parts of CT are close to Boston. Connecticut and New Jersey are both sandwiched between two major cities, but they don't have a major, major urban city themselves.
A bunch of smaller to mid-sized cities that have many, many, many probles. Tons of violence, urban decay, corrupt politics, large minority populations in a only a very small area. Cities are extremely dense and you can find numerous ethnic groups in these cities. New Jersey has Newark, Trenton, Camden, Jersey City, Irvington, Patterson. Connecticut has Bridgeport, Stamford, New Haven, Hartford, New London.
Take a trip 5 minutes beyond any of these city limits and you can be in the some of the wealthiest towns in the nation. In New Jersey you have many affluent suburbs in Northen New Jersey, especially in Bergan County. Fairfield County in Connecticut is home to tons of money, old and new. Greenwich, New Canaan, Darien, Westport and Wilton rank as having some of the highest median household incomes in the nation and all towns have home prices that go well over 1,000,000. This can be said for towns in Jersey as well. Even the non-affluent towns in these states are still expensive compared to by national standards.
Culture. Connecticut and New Jersey have large ethnic populations. I know CT has a large Albanian and Portugese population and of course Italians, as does Jersey. Large Jewish popultation, Irish, Muslim, etc.
Excellent Schools. Public schools in the rest of the country do not compare to these two states, maybe Maryland and Massachusetts.
You can be in the "country" in the matter of minutes in both states. We are talking farms, cornfields, etc.. In the opposite direction you can wide up in an industrial park.
Very similar.
I think you pretty much hit the nail on the head, but do you really think you can be in the Jersey countryside in a matter of minutes? I mean maybe you can, but my family lives in Union County right outside the city, and IMO you'd have to drive quite a bit more than 5 minutes to be someplace rural. Yet if you're in Hartford, you can go one town north, to Bloomfield, and the western side of town near Simsbury is very woodsy and rural, with farmstands and corn fields. Your list of cities in CT with urban ills is right on, except for Stamford. It's basically Connecticut's version of White Plains, with many large companies and banks moving in to town, and it's gotten incredibly expensive like you would not believe.
IMO, they are very similar but I think CT has more of a preppy feel to it, and more of an old money atmosphere. Many towns still today have many large estates from the early 20th century (including some in my town), whereas it seems the wealthy in Jersey all live in McMansions. Aside from West and South Orange, I haven't been in any towns that really have an old money feel to it. They may very well exist, but I haven't seen them.
I think you pretty much hit the nail on the head, but do you really think you can be in the Jersey countryside in a matter of minutes? I mean maybe you can, but my family lives in Union County right outside the city, and IMO you'd have to drive quite a bit more than 5 minutes to be someplace rural. Yet if you're in Hartford, you can go one town north, to Bloomfield, and the western side of town near Simsbury is very woodsy and rural, with farmstands and corn fields. Your list of cities in CT with urban ills is right on, except for Stamford. It's basically Connecticut's version of White Plains, with many large companies and banks moving in to town, and it's gotten incredibly expensive like you would not believe.
IMO, they are very similar but I think CT has more of a preppy feel to it, and more of an old money atmosphere. Many towns still today have many large estates from the early 20th century (including some in my town), whereas it seems the wealthy in Jersey all live in McMansions. Aside from West and South Orange, I haven't been in any towns that really have an old money feel to it. They may very well exist, but I haven't seen them.
The "hunt" country of Somerset County, where the Forbes' and Onassis' played (and where Donald Trump today plays)! Oldwick, Bedminster, Bernardsville stink of old bucks, LOL.
I think you pretty much hit the nail on the head, but do you really think you can be in the Jersey countryside in a matter of minutes? I mean maybe you can, but my family lives in Union County right outside the city, and IMO you'd have to drive quite a bit more than 5 minutes to be someplace rural. Yet if you're in Hartford, you can go one town north, to Bloomfield, and the western side of town near Simsbury is very woodsy and rural, with farmstands and corn fields. Your list of cities in CT with urban ills is right on, except for Stamford. It's basically Connecticut's version of White Plains, with many large companies and banks moving in to town, and it's gotten incredibly expensive like you would not believe.
IMO, they are very similar but I think CT has more of a preppy feel to it, and more of an old money atmosphere. Many towns still today have many large estates from the early 20th century (including some in my town), whereas it seems the wealthy in Jersey all live in McMansions. Aside from West and South Orange, I haven't been in any towns that really have an old money feel to it. They may very well exist, but I haven't seen them.
Okay, maybe more than five minutes, but you know what I mean. There are still rural areas of New Jersey, and Jersey isn't that big of a state.
As for Stamford. Don't let downtown fool you and don't let North Stamford, with all the wealth, estates and McMansions fool you either. Parts of Stamford are still very, very bad and have the same problems as a Bridgeport or a Newark. Is it becoming gentrified. Without question, purchasing a decent home in Stamford will cost you a good deal, and for what? The schools aren't as good as surrounding towns and you have to deal with the city problems, such as bad areas only minutes away and higher taxes.
As for CT having more of a preppy feel, yes without question. However Connecticut has a rich history and a WASPY culture that dates back many, many years which leads many to believe this. It still holds true today.
I think you pretty much hit the nail on the head, but do you really think you can be in the Jersey countryside in a matter of minutes? I mean maybe you can, but my family lives in Union County right outside the city, and IMO you'd have to drive quite a bit more than 5 minutes to be someplace rural. Yet if you're in Hartford, you can go one town north, to Bloomfield, and the western side of town near Simsbury is very woodsy and rural, with farmstands and corn fields. Your list of cities in CT with urban ills is right on, except for Stamford. It's basically Connecticut's version of White Plains, with many large companies and banks moving in to town, and it's gotten incredibly expensive like you would not believe.
like i said, its a preppy version of NJ. its more woodsy. 70% of NJ looks urban imo
There are still rural areas of New Jersey, and Jersey isn't that big of a state.
About that, it depends on your definition of "rural." You have Montana rural, Alabama rural, and East Long Island "rural." I just don't consider being within 10 min. of a strip mall no matter where you live "rural." So unless you live in the Pine Barrens , if you live in New Jersey you don't live in a rural area.
I strongly agree with the last 10 or so posts though. Connecticut is a less depressing version of New Jersey. Also, NJ is the 2nd wealthiest state and CT is the third (MD is 1st). I would say Massachusetts and Maryland are also similar to NJ/CT as well, especially on paper.
About that, it depends on your definition of "rural." You have Montana rural, Alabama rural, and East Long Island "rural." I just don't consider being within 10 min. of a strip mall no matter where you live "rural." So unless you live in the Pine Barrens , if you live in New Jersey you don't live in a rural area.
I strongly agree with the last 10 or so posts though. Connecticut is a less depressing version of New Jersey. Also, NJ is the 2nd wealthiest state and CT is the third (MD is 1st). I would say Massachusetts and Maryland are also similar to NJ/CT as well, especially on paper.
I mean...based on what, exactly?
Additionally, NJ has a lot of acres of greenland, rurul no? Wooded? Absolutely.
About that, it depends on your definition of "rural." You have Montana rural, Alabama rural, and East Long Island "rural." I just don't consider being within 10 min. of a strip mall no matter where you live "rural." So unless you live in the Pine Barrens , if you live in New Jersey you don't live in a rural area.
I strongly agree with the last 10 or so posts though. Connecticut is a less interesting version of New Jersey. Also, NJ is the 2nd wealthiest state and CT is the third (MD is 1st). I would say Massachusetts and Maryland are also similar to NJ/CT as well, especially on paper.
lol why thank you I can't believe I screwed up like that...Connecticut is less "interesting" if you consider the crime in Newark, Trenton, and Camden "interesting."
Now before everyone lunges at my throat, I'm not putting down NJ, it's a great place to live. I'm just saying the facts point out that some of NJ's towns are more dangerous than what you'd find in CT, and that includes Bridgeport.
lol why thank you I can't believe I screwed up like that...Connecticut is less "interesting" if you consider the crime in Newark, Trenton, and Camden "interesting."
Now before everyone lunges at my throat, I'm not putting down NJ, it's a great place to live. I'm just saying the facts point out that some of NJ's towns are more dangerous than what you'd find in CT, and that includes Bridgeport.
but what they have in common is crime is really contained in those cities - next to these crime ridden places are probably some of the most affluent and safe places in the country. it's quite a contrast to other states/cities, where crime spreads out into the 'burbs.
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, if you live in New Jersey you don't live in a rural area.
