How is Hamden for living?

Submitted by oodrishsho t3_10vone8 in newhaven

I'm looking for an apartment in Hamden. How is the town vibe? Is it overall safe? I'll be commuting to downtown New Haven regularly as my work is there. Any information much appreciated

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rewirez5940 t1_j7iwiyp wrote

It's ok. I miss the city vibe of NHV but enjoy having a yard. Not so walkable and fewer bars/restaurants.

Overall safe but less so on the border with New Haven. Many bus routes go directly down town for an easy commute to the green. Traffic gets a little heavy during commutes or Yale.

Hamden, it's kind of a suburb?

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corcobongo t1_j7jknd0 wrote

Depends on where in Hamden. I live by the Playwright and I like the area. Definitely smaller than New Haven but we were able to afford a house here.

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beowolfey t1_j7k73f3 wrote

It’s okay. Better for rentals than homeowners because they have one of the highest property tax rates in the state. It’s a BIG town, ranging from dense suburban down south to open farmlands up north. You’ll probably find something nice somewhere!

Probably with that commute you’ll want to live along Whitney. Whitneyville is a nice area and close to New Haven; has a “main street” with an Irish pub, a well-stocked (if expensive) market, a bookstore, etc. There are mostly houses there (that may rent!) but also a few apartment buildings worth checking for vacancies.

Further up, the downtown area is pretty nice and you might be able to find an apartment or rental unit.

Keep going and you’ll be by Quinnipiac. Also pretty nice but less dense. There will be lots of rentals there but you’ll have to contend with more undergrad-centric conditions…

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kppeterc15 t1_j7kwrbd wrote

My wife and I have lived in Hamden for about 4 years now. We love it. Whitneyville/Spring Glen area offers a nice, walkable neighborhood and an easy commute to downtown New Haven. (We mostly take the 228 bus down Whitney Ave. Canal Trail is also great for bike commuting.)

In terms of crime, Hamden deals with a lot of the same stuff as any suburb these days — mainly car/property-related. Keep your doors locked and don't leave your car running and you'll probably be fine. There has been a small number of high-profile muggings/purse-snatchings in Hamden Plaza in the last couple of years, but it's certainly not a warzone like some people make it out to be.

Not sure what the rental market is like, but it can't be any worse than New Haven!

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bingybunny t1_j7loqmh wrote

yeah the one thing about hamden is that if you live near the canal trail, you really can ride your bike for everything. it's a pretty easy ride from shops and things near Quinnipiac U to Hamden Plaza and Home Depot, through to Yale and downtown

you could literally buy lumber on your cargo bike and not deal with any cars

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brewski t1_j7nz074 wrote

Depends what you're into. I love it. I loved New Haven too.

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MochaUnicorn369 t1_j7joiid wrote

There’s more crime than meets the eye. Lots of cars being stolen, carjackings, muggings. Join the Hamden Crime Watchers group on FB for details. It’s convenient to New Haven and there are some decent restaurants and bars - easier to get to/park then the ones in New Haven. The Farmington Canal trail is a big bonus.

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AbuJimTommy t1_j7o1tj3 wrote

I’d go North Haven over Hamden. Not really a coherent town, more hard-core suburban sprawl in feel, but Much easier to shoot down I-91 into New Haven than trying to go down Whitney with all the lights. Structurally Hamden government is F’d financially. Not sure how they are going to get out of it. That’s why the tax rate is so high. Maybe a renter doesn’t care, but would definitely not buy in Hamden, personally.

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SharkMark18 t1_j7t6o9b wrote

Currently rent in Townwalk. Solid complex

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kryonik t1_j7lfr61 wrote

It's a gradient. The closer you get to New Haven, the shitty the area but more stuff to do. The closer you get to Cheshire, the nicer the area but less stuff around. High property taxes but you get back what you pay in for the most part. Overall I give it a B.

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catsmash t1_j7m6fl5 wrote

i'd say that former point is really not super accurate. whitneyville is pretty close to the new haven border &, as plenty here have mentioned, it's one of the town's more appealing neighborhoods.

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kryonik t1_j7m7iix wrote

I was thinking more along the Whitney/Dixwell corridor.

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catsmash t1_j7po15d wrote

i would probably clarify what you meant, then, because that statement was inaccurate.

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