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I'm moving to CT. Chose the Avon/Canton area (1 Viewer)

cosjobs

cosjobs

Footballguy
I don't have much family left. Only one brother and my mom and my brother's son.  The son lives in New Hartford and he and his wife both telecommute to Boston. They had a baby about  a year and a half ago and I have not yet met him.

My wife's sister lives in Manhattan off Central Park on the East side. She and her husband have a 2BR apt.

Seems to me living somewhere between the two might be good. I think I'd rather be closer to my nephew. Maybesoemwhere between Milford and East Harford, but I am pretty flexible. It seems that the more rural areas have some well-priced homes and my Austin house is up 50% since I bought it a year ago. Seems like it might be a good time to make a move. I love, love Austin, but Texas politics are really depressing me. 

 
Oh, cos, as a former long-time resident of CT, I would really caution you. Depends on how much you want to be with family. It's cold. It's a suburb state. What I mean by that is the cities might as well be suburbs, or are inhabitable and dilapidated. New Haven, only in certain areas, is the best of the lot. It is a good, equidistant drive from both The City and Hartford, though New Hartford is a bit of a different trek than Hartford, believe it or not.

MIlford is fairly downstate. Off of 95. East Hartford is in Northern CT off of where it is I-91. East Hartford is a blue-collar town. Milford is the same. Milford Jai-Alai is what I remember from New Milford. That and the OTB. New Hartford is in the Canton/Torrington area, right near the Farmington Valley, which is where I grew up and became an adult. It's desolate, cold, lonely, and there's very little to do of note.

I don't think any town will compare even remotely to Austin, and I think you'll find yourself likely pining for it after you leave. CT is not a fun place. Depends, though, how badly you want to be with family. Can't replace that!

Any questions you have, fire away. I did not get out and about much in my adult years after law school, so that's about a decade in the past, but I can give you a lay of the land as I once remembered it.

 
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Big fan of the old Milford Jai Alai. Once that left, seems everything else really started to suck.

Maybe, maybe, if you found some quiet little antique-store-and-winery hamlet, it could be a nice place. But if that's not your vibe... don't hold out much hope for CT.

 
I've heard a lot of good things about Port Chester, NY, right on the border with CT on the sound. easy commute N or S, walkable, more varied culture than other CT towns. 

 
firstseason1987 said:
Big fan of the old Milford Jai Alai. Once that left, seems everything else really started to suck.

Maybe, maybe, if you found some quiet little antique-store-and-winery hamlet, it could be a nice place. But if that's not your vibe... don't hold out much hope for CT.
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Growing up just a mile away from Milford jai alai during my high school years, I quickly took up the sport at the amateur facility. It’s a nice seaside city having just drove thru today with my 88 year old father..

 
cosjobs said:
I don't have much family left. Only one brother and my mom and my brother's son.  The son lives in New Hartford and he and his wife both telecommute to Boston. They had a baby about  a year and a half ago and I have not yet met him.

My wife's sister lives in Manhattan off Central Park on the East side. She and her husband have a 2BR apt.

Seems to me living somewhere between the two might be good. I think I'd rather be closer to my nephew. Maybesoemwhere between Milford and East Harford, but I am pretty flexible. It seems that the more rural areas have some well-priced homes and my Austin house is up 50% since I bought it a year ago. Seems like it might be a good time to make a move. I love, love Austin, but Texas politics are really depressing me. 
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The further you get away from water usually translates into price reduction.  I grew up in Milford but live exactly between new haven and east hartford. The mid-point is really wallingford.  But if you don’t have kids or care neighbors etc then there are other options.  You can pm if you want my opinion.. 

 
cosjobs said:
I don't have much family left. Only one brother and my mom and my brother's son.  The son lives in New Hartford and he and his wife both telecommute to Boston. They had a baby about  a year and a half ago and I have not yet met him.

My wife's sister lives in Manhattan off Central Park on the East side. She and her husband have a 2BR apt.

Seems to me living somewhere between the two might be good. I think I'd rather be closer to my nephew. Maybesoemwhere between Milford and East Harford, but I am pretty flexible. It seems that the more rural areas have some well-priced homes and my Austin house is up 50% since I bought it a year ago. Seems like it might be a good time to make a move. I love, love Austin, but Texas politics are really depressing me. 
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Wait until you've been there two years if you can to avoid paying taxes on that gain.

 
Going from a city to living in rural CT might be rough.

Even though you will do well on your place in Austin, hard to imagine you coming out ahead on any real estate if you are planning to buy anything similar in CT.  

If it were me and I was committed to the move, I'd downsize and perhaps rent a smaller place somewhere on the coast.  Give yourself some time to see if that's where you really want to live.

CT has always been pretty bland to me but being near family is understandable.  At least with the coast, you have some natural beauty to take in, go for walks, etc.    Rural CT seems like it would be depressing to me but just IMO

 
Westin is super nice. 
 

But consider the Catskills. It’s beautiful.  And there’s some stuff around. 

 
Here are some I'd consider but I say that loosely as there is pretty much 0 chance I'd move there. Stamford and Greenwich are super expensive but puts you pretty close to NYC.  Bottom line the coast is the most desirable but also expensive.

Fairfield

Norwalk

Milford

Stamford

Greenwich

Old Lyme
Old Saybrook

Also Westerly RI

 
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Otis said:
Westin is super nice. 
 

But consider the Catskills. It’s beautiful.  And there’s some stuff around. 
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Lot of good advice here...somewhere like Millerton NY is super nice and hip, but lot of that area in that CT, NY, MA corner are really nice and hip.  

 
Lots of great comments here. I appreciate it. I'll respond some more tomorrow.

I was talking to the wife this evening after posting and told her that we chose this location in Austin because there were 40 resaturants, five movie theaters, 30 bars and five libraries within a $10 Uber. So I'm afraid I'd have to give that up and unsure I'd actually be willing to do it.

eta - unless I move in with El FLoppo. I love me some Bowery, Soho, Little Italy, Chinatown

 
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I agree with most others. There are some beautiful towns in CT, but you’re not going to get anywhere close to the vibe you’re getting in Austin. And you’ll indeed likely pay up the closer you get to NYC and/or the Long Island Sound. Closer to Massachusetts may be more affordable, but again that’s nothing but suburbia. If you do want closer to NYC, Litchfield County in NW Connecticut could be another option.

 
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cosjobs said:
Lots of great comments here. I appreciate it. I'll respond some more tomorrow.

I was talking to the wife this evening after posting and told her that we chose this location in Austin because there were 40 resaturants, five movie theaters, 30 bars and five libraries within a $10 Uber. So I'm afraid I'd have to give that up and unsure I'd actually be willing to do it.

eta - unless I move in with El FLoppo. I love me some Bowery, Soho, Little Italy, Chinatown
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Both of those (Austin, living with El Floppo) sound close to the opposite of most experiences I’ve had in Connecticut.

 
cosjobs said:
Lots of great comments here. I appreciate it. I'll respond some more tomorrow.

I was talking to the wife this evening after posting and told her that we chose this location in Austin because there were 40 resaturants, five movie theaters, 30 bars and five libraries within a $10 Uber. So I'm afraid I'd have to give that up and unsure I'd actually be willing to do it.

eta - unless I move in with El FLoppo. I love me some Bowery, Soho, Little Italy, Chinatown
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Based on that, I would suggest either Stamford which is more expensive and less poverty or new haven which has reasonable options but has big city problems. 

 
Your life and understandably family matters but no way I'd move from Austin to CT (or anywhere in the Northeast).

Sure you might see them more often than now but really couldn't you just make it happen from Austin more often if you wanted in future? (obv understandable with Covid).

I've seen it many times....move to be closer to family.....then really don't see them that often as each have built their own lives and independence when closer and wind up living somewhere they dont want. I'd go rent an Airbnb or something for a period of time (weeks/month) and see how often you really spend with family / how much you actually like/dislike CT 

 
I've lived in CT the past 10 years, it's taken a while to get used to but it's home now.  It's not as bad as some folks in the thread make it out to be, but it's nothing special either.

A few thoughts: 

-If you're in Austin and still want somewhat of a city vibe New Haven is your best option.  Good restaurants, some really nice neighborhoods, and you have Yale which brings some decent cultural stuff.  Downside is aside from Hartford they have the highest property taxes in the state and other parts of the city is a high crime dump.  New Haven is also the last stop on the MetroNorth so you can get a train that will take you to Grand Central in Manhattan.

-Speaking of taxes you're coming from a no-income tax state to one of the highest

-Home prices are up big time here too (though I've only looked at certain towns based on public schools, maybe it's different in other areas).  As someone mentioned if you're on the shoreline, prices go up...and go higher and higher the closer you get to NYC.

-Lots of towns don't have neighborhoods.  It's just houses off main roads and lots of woods.  Many people like that, but with young kids I prefer the neighborhood vibe where my kids can ride their bike to a friend's house.

-Towns somewhat between Milford and New Hartford that I would consider: New Haven (though not if you're sending your kid to public school), Cheshire, Southington, Wallingford, Newtown

 
Also, if you're planning to drive a bunch, CT has the highest gas prices in the region. When I drive from NJ to visit family in MA, I plan it so we never have to buy gas in CT. 

 
I agree with most of the comments here. Nothing wrong with being closer to family, but maybe cast a wider net that just within state lines. Providence RI is pretty cool, or Amherst/Northampton in Massachusetts. You can be close to family but also live in a place that has a bit more to offer than much of the Nutmeg State seems to have

 
The_Man said:
I agree with most of the comments here. Nothing wrong with being closer to family, but maybe cast a wider net that just within state lines. Providence RI is pretty cool, or Amherst/Northampton in Massachusetts. You can be close to family but also live in a place that has a bit more to offer than much of the Nutmeg State seems to have
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I know nothing about Connecticut but it seems to me if you love Austin and are moving to get close to family then Cos should do that or just stay put and use his money to travel there a few times a year.  But then again, I’m adverse to moving anyway and he’s moved a lot so maybe it’s something he wants to do either way.

 
SouthJersey said:
I've lived in CT the past 10 years, it's taken a while to get used to but it's home now.  It's not as bad as some folks in the thread make it out to be, but it's nothing special either.

A few thoughts: 

-If you're in Austin and still want somewhat of a city vibe New Haven is your best option.  Good restaurants, some really nice neighborhoods, and you have Yale which brings some decent cultural stuff.  Downside is aside from Hartford they have the highest property taxes in the state and other parts of the city is a high crime dump.  New Haven is also the last stop on the MetroNorth so you can get a train that will take you to Grand Central in Manhattan.

-Speaking of taxes you're coming from a no-income tax state to one of the highest

-Home prices are up big time here too (though I've only looked at certain towns based on public schools, maybe it's different in other areas).  As someone mentioned if you're on the shoreline, prices go up...and go higher and higher the closer you get to NYC.

-Lots of towns don't have neighborhoods.  It's just houses off main roads and lots of woods.  Many people like that, but with young kids I prefer the neighborhood vibe where my kids can ride their bike to a friend's house.

-Towns somewhat between Milford and New Hartford that I would consider: New Haven (though not if you're sending your kid to public school), Cheshire, Southington, Wallingford, Newtown
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Transplant in CT for 23 years. This is pretty spot on.

From what I understand, much of our housing surge is due to NYC people moving to "the suburbs" and access to Metro North is a huge benefit. So, outside of the Stamford to New Haven Metro North commute, housing prices may not be escalating quite as much. However, I'm not an expert on this. Everything post Covid costs more.

We have a rental house in Milford. Rented to a 50s couple from Colorado a few years ago, they moved for similar reasons as you. They rented our house while they figured out where they wanted to live and moved back to Co after 18 months. I'd suggest that you consider renting, but the rental market is at it's peak as well. Same reasons as above (NYC transplants).

Feel free to PM.

 
The_Man said:
I agree with most of the comments here. Nothing wrong with being closer to family, but maybe cast a wider net that just within state lines. Providence RI is pretty cool, or Amherst/Northampton in Massachusetts. You can be close to family but also live in a place that has a bit more to offer than much of the Nutmeg State seems to have
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I think we have pretty much decided to move next year.

The_Man's post above is what we have bee struggling with the most. We finally decided we wanted to be no more than 30 minutes from my nephew (preferable closer) and no more than 30 minutes from a Costco. That will also put us within 2 hrs of Boston or NYC

My nephew has two kids , a newborn and a two year old. They are the last of my family bloodline, they are adorable and I want to be able to visit quickly and easily. If I had to go an hour each way through those backroads, I doubt I would go more than once a month.

All that said, the cities we have to choose from are Torrington, New Hartford, Avon, Simsbury, Farmington, Bristol,  Burlington, Harwinton. I think I will be able to find something with a pond or have deeded pond or lake access. Or a big enough lot to put in an acre pond.

 
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bostonfred said:
Connecticut sucks but if you're really considering living in CT I feel like the drive to foxwoods/Mohegan sun should be part of your thought process. 
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They don't have a sportsbook. I'm trying to find the nearest. Maybe Schenectady

 
I stayed in Windsor for two weeks once for work.  Nice enough area.  There's also a train down to New Haven and then over to NYC.  The airport in Windsor Locks has a few options also.  

 
cosjobs said:
I think we have pretty much decided to move next year.

The_Man's post above is what we have bee struggling with the most. We finally decided we wanted to be no more than 30 minutes from my nephew (preferable closer) and no more than 30 minutes from a Costco. That will also put us within 2 hrs of Boston or NYC

My nephew has two kids , a newborn and a two year old. They are the last of my family bloodline, they are adorable and I want to be able to visit quickly and easily. If I had to go an hour each way through those backroads, I doubt I would go more than once a month.

All that said, the cities we have to choose from are Torrington, New Hartford, Avon, Simsbury, Farmington, Bristol,  Burlington, Harwinton. I think I will be able to find something with a pond or have deeded pond or lake access. Or a big enough lot to put in an acre pond.
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The towns you listed are all very nice - affluent, great schools, rural character but expensive.  The exception being Bristol.  It’s a blue collar town so better value but schools not so good.  Good luck.  

 
stlrams said:
Avon, Simsbury, Farmington
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Three of the richest areas in the state. That's the Farmington Valley. I'm from there. 

Best of luck, cos. CT isn't all that great. Really cold in the winter and hot in the summer. For a nutmeg, it's not all it's cracked up to be. (See what I did there?)

eta* I'm not rich. I'm actually from a town adjacent to those towns. A town that's a little bit hicky, actually. 

 
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Yeah, Connecticut sucks, if you decide to be in CT all the time, and hang out in Hartford every night, or up in that weird corner where @rockaction grew up (Rebecca Lobo for the win). 

But if you live a quick train ride from NYC, which would be a 1-1.5 hour drive from Hartford, you get most of the benefits of NYC without the negatives. And you are a few hours drive from a ton of stuff. 

Thing about the Northeast, everything is close. From CT/NY line, you are two hours drive from good beaches, and a few more hours from better beaches, and the best skiing on the east coast. 

 
massraider said:
or up in that weird corner where @rockaction grew up
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Preach. It was a mixture of all of the remoteness and stupidity with all the friendliness the Northeast is known for.

But that's close to where Cos is moving, I fear. And the other towns he listed are just as remote. New Hartford, Harwinton, and Burlington aren't that close to NY, if I'm not mistaken, and those towns get really depressing come winter. I have friends and older adult friends that live in those towns.   

And NYC is more than 1.5 hours from HTFD. New Haven is 1-1/4. Anywhere in NYC of note will take you at least two hours. 

Oh my. I just realized I'm correcting you without really meaning to. I just spent most of my youth and then a lot of my adult life there. I went to law school there. New Hartford, Harwinton, and Burlington might be closer to NY. I've never really made that trip other than down Route 8 to 84? I think that's the way...

 
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rockaction said:
Preach. It was a mixture of all of the remoteness and stupidity with all the friendliness the Northeast is known for.

But that's close to where Cos is moving, I fear. And the other towns he listed are just as remote. New Hartford, Harwinton, and Burlington aren't that close to NY, if I'm not mistaken, and those towns get really depressing come winter. I have friends and older adult friends that live in those towns.   

And NYC is more than 1.5 hours from HTFD. New Haven is 1-1/4. Anywhere in NYC of note will take you at least two hours. 

Oh my. I just realized I'm correcting you without really meaning to. I just spent most of my youth and then a lot of my adult life there. I went to law school there. New Hartford, Harwinton, and Burlington might be closer to NY. I've never really made that trip other than down Route 8 to 84? I think that's the way...
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I grew up right on the Mass/CT border, south of Worcester

 
massraider said:
I grew up right on the Mass/CT border, south of Worcester
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Oh wow. Cool. I'm looking at a map now and can guess approximately. That's also a bit out there. Tell me, how did you get to lead your glamorous lifestyle from such remote beginnings. Or were they remote? 

 
rockaction said:
Oh wow. Cool. I'm looking at a map now and can guess approximately. That's also a bit out there. Tell me, how did you get to lead your glamorous lifestyle from such remote beginnings. Or were they remote? 
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I grew up in a log cabin my daddy built with his own two hands, true story. Yes, that area is remote. It was about an hour from Boston, but none of the people in my area ever went into the city. It's odd. 

I was over small town living by 15 years old, and went to school in Boston, and have been city ever since, aside from a fun 3 years in Aspen. 

The advantage of being in the Northeast, and being driving distance from so many things I took for granted, until I lived in Colorado (and Vegas). 

 
massraider said:
I grew up in a log cabin my daddy built with his own two hands, true story.
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So you're like Thoreau, only inherited. 

I kid. Interesting story though. I'd also had enough of small town living by the end of high school but followed that with a shot of Hamilton, NY and finally followed by a chaser of D.C. and moving back home because city life was too tempting and got to me. Totally burnt. 

Anyway, sorry about that, cos. Back to CT and its virtues/demerits. We know it's not very far from big metropolis Point A to big metropolis Point B now.

 
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stlrams said:
The towns you listed are all very nice - affluent, great schools, rural character but expensive.  The exception being Bristol.  It’s a blue collar town so better value but schools not so good.  Good luck.  
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Thanks.  I was hoping you would reply to my update. 

Home price will be what I get for my home in Austin and it looks like that will get me something pretty nice.  Especially. In Bristol.

 
rockaction said:
Three of the richest areas in the state. That's the Farmington Valley. I'm from there. 

Best of luck, cos. CT isn't all that great. Really cold in the winter and hot in the summer. For a nutmeg, it's not all it's cracked up to be. (See what I did there?)

eta* I'm not rich. I'm actually from a town adjacent to those towns. A town that's a little bit hicky, actually. 
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Barkhamstead? Winsted?

 
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