Submitted by SaysKay t3_10mf37p in Connecticut
We are considering moving from NYC to CT and are looking for a neighborhood that meets our needs: great schools, community feel, lots of families, possible to drive to NYC once a week, safe, progressive/liberal, diverse as possible. Does this exist? Haha
We have been looking at Newtown thanks!
I wouldn’t really call any of the places listen above diverse at all. But they do fit your criteria otherwise and are very nice towns. If you want more diversity, you would just have to go a bigger town like Norwalk or Stamford. CT is still very segregated in some ways, due to historical redlining.
Danbury is pretty diversified
Danbury is definitely diverse. Newtown is definitely not. I have lived in both towns.
I grew up in Newtown (parents moved from the city to the area) and it was not very diverse, but the schools were great and it checks your other boxes. We went to the city frequently and my parents worked in Westchester. Good luck in your search!
We visited some houses in Newtown today and it felt SO RURAL. I definitely need something that feels more like a city!
I could see that! I don’t know how much it’s changed since mid-00s when I moved, but you generally had to go to the surrounding towns for anything more than a grocery store. And we lived kind of “in town” so it was a little walkable, but other areas definitely not. My parents got used to it, but it was definitely a change from NYC to be there.
Consider the Farmington, West Hartford, Avon area. Very good schools, although housing prices are high. Also, I want to add that the people down voting you do not have the state of Connecticut's best long term interests in mind. If our state is to survive and thrive, we want to encourage New York residents to move here and bring their young family as well. So I say welcome.
West Hartford for sure. Diverse, Progressive, and more lively than most. Very affordable compared to Fairfield County.
Thats going to be 2.5-3hrs to NYC though (depending on train or driving, and where you're trying to get). Otherwise fits all the other requirements :)
Greenwich is probably what you're looking for. If you have the money for it, anyways.
Deff but too expensive
Fairfield county will be your best bet by far.
You can take a train from basically any town in Fairfield (including new Canaan and Wilton as they have spurs that connect them to the metro north) and pretty much any town in Fairfield will all of your boxes excluding diversity (but that doesn’t mean they aren’t welcoming for all). It would help to understand why you are leaving nyc and what you hope to have here that you don’t have there as well to place a good fit better. I made the move couple years ago
My husband has family on the shoreline and while we live NYC we are about to have our second kid and just can’t afford to live in NYC without moving from a neighborhood we deeply love
Like the old saw. You can have it fast, quality or cheap. Choose two.
What's your budget?
~700k
Most of the towns West of Bridgeport should work.
700k won’t go far there. I’d go east of Bridgeport.
Look at Milford, Orange area. More affordable than lower FFC and tremendous area with lots to do. Near New Haven which is CT’s cultural and food capital.
Westport or Fairfield
Diverse or great schools, pick one
Schools are top priority
Shitters full.
ah… you check our shitters honey?
No just stay in NYC please thank you.
Bridgeport for sure.
My in-laws are in guilford and it’s nice but my husband doesn’t like the commute to the city. Milford is nice but schools are eh. Greenwich is lovely but too expensive.
Milford schools are not eh. Where’d you get that from?
Number 32 in a state that is near the top in the country for public education.
https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-school-districts/s/connecticut/?page=2
It’s also socioeconomically diverse which is rare for a town with good schools.
Nearby Orange ranks almost near the top (it’s less diverse), but I doubt you’ll notice a huge difference in school quality.
This is helpful! Our real estate agent said the schools in Milford weren’t that great I’ll do some research.
Ugh. Real estate agents aren’t even legally allowed to say that. Maybe you need a new agent. 😉
It is also possible they are dealing with very dated perceptions of Milford from maybe the 90’s when money hadn’t poured in yet and schools didn’t perform as well as now.
I’ll definitely do some research! Thanks!
I think your problem will be too many options, not whether such a place exists.
My top choice would be Greenwich, particularly Old Greenwich - very family friendly, easy train to the city (driving wouldn't be easy though, from anywhere), progressive, very safe, and beautiful.
For something less expensive, I'd opt for Fairfield or Milford, both of which are great towns and more diverse as well. Ridgefield is also great but not as convenient. Guilford and Madison too.
Farther afield, places like West Harford, Simsbury and Avon are excellent as well.
I don't think a New Yorker will like Simsbury or Avon. These towns are too rural/suburb for a New Yorker. Community too .. it's far far far different than NY community.
If you are looking for a bit much of a country/rural feel, but still drivable to the city, check out Easton. Moved there from NYC two years ago. Amazing schools and great community feel.
Once a week to nyc is Fairfield county imo. Sure you could go further but with that frequency, you want to be at most 1.5 hours away
Trumbull is a great family town.
You’re looking for Stamford - and if anyone says the schools in Stamford aren’t good they have no idea what they are talking about.
Visit West Hartford
I came here to say West Hartford.
West Hartford fits OP's description perfectly.
No feasible to commute from there
The OP mentioned driving once a week to NYC. Very feasible from West Hartford and I know someone who does exactly that and works remotely the other work days.
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Wilton’s close to trains at Westport and has great schools and a community culture. It’s much quieter than new Canaan or Darien and a good deal smaller. Navy blue in all ways. I moved here three years ago to join my partner, who is a long term resident. Low key and friendly but housing prices are bad.
Of course. What's your budget?
I think New Milford is a very nice town, it’s on the border of New York, but the drive to NYC might be like 1 1/2 - 2 hrs
Stamford is pretty diverse. Good neighborhoods,schools,nice people. My boyfriend is a New Yorker and he loves Stamford.
Milford 💯
Fits all your criteria and more.
stay in ny no more progressive/liberals needed you’re ruining this once wonderful state
If that's what you're looking for in CT, you're spoiled for choice. I recommend West Hartford though. It's very walkable. Sidewalks from one end of town to the other.
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Stay out of CT…. Too many of you fucks here already ruining rent and traffic.
No, go to Jersey.
Well thanks…
Screw what he thinks. Honestly you’ll get those types in r/newjersey as well
BrutallyRational t1_j62pcmg wrote
The towns in the Greater Danbury area (Northern Fairfield County) are very nice and fit most of your criteria; Ridgefield, Brookfield, Bethel and Newtown to name a few places. They’re just over an hour from NYC, have excellent schools and community feel, and offer a great value if you don’t need to commute into the city every single day.