If you're in West Hartford it's best to take I-84 West into I-684 into White Plains, NY, and shoot down I-87, or I-287. It'll be around 2-3 hours each way.

Or take I-84 to Route 7 South, and catch I-95 in Norwalk, and then straight into NY, or catch the Train in Stamford, or Norwalk.

The best town to live in is Redding, Ridgefield, or New Milford, worst case Southbury.