Moving to Connecticut

[WaveDomer]

My wife just got a nice job offer in Stamford. I am a restaurant/wine guy, so I know my opportunities in that area will be good. I also grew up in N. New Jersey, so am familiar with the region, but not really Connecticut. Have not been there in over 20 years though. Plus, when growing up I wasn't paying mortgage, property tax etc.

So I am feeling out the forum to see what anyone knows. Have 3 younger daughters and looking for a nice area around there, but probably not the pricey areas. Good schools is probably the most important. Also just any general info. Thanks.

 

[wizards8507]

Welcome!

Step one: Buy one of my Shamrock Series tickets and come with me to Fenway.

Step two: Prepare yourself for sticker shock. Just about everything is going to feel like a "pricey area."

 

[WaveDomer]

Welcome!

Step one: Buy one of my Shamrock Series tickets and come with me to Fenway.

Step two: Prepare yourself for sticker shock. Just about everything is going to feel like a "pricey area."

Haha. True, at least compared to out here. I am looking forward to being back around NYC and what it offers.

 

[wizards8507]

Haha. True, at least compared to out here. I am looking forward to being back around NYC and what it offers.

Step three: Screw NYC and embrace the Boston / New England culture.

 

[WaveDomer]

Step three: Screw NYC and embrace the Boston / New England culture.

That may be an issue.

 

[Irish Insanity]

Step three: Screw NYC and embrace the Boston / New England culture.

Step four: Fuck ESPN

 

[zelezo vlk]

A wine guy eh? Nice

 

[WaveDomer]

A wine guy eh? Nice

Yeah, it has its perks for sure.

 

[#1rish]

If you look at any place in Fairfield County (where Stamford is) you'll most likely only see pricey homes. You could take a look in neighboring Westchester County. Still a little pricey, but could be less than CT.

 

[WaveDomer]

If you look at any place in Fairfield County (where Stamford is) you'll most likely only see pricey homes. You could take a look in neighboring Westchester County. Still a little pricey, but could be less than CT.

Thanks. Yeah, we are comfortable with a reasonable commute. Especially if the commute is by train.

 

[connor_in]

Step 5: Start replacing all your "r" sounds with "ah" sounds in your verbalizations

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Excellent choice moving to South Western Fairfield county! That's where I grew up. Lived in Stamford and Norwalk for a few years after college and that's where my hangout has been for bars up until recently where I moved to Westchester County.

I will tell you this if you want good schools, Stamford is not where you want to live, unless you want to send them to private school. Neighboring towns like Greenwich, Darien and New Canaan much better schools. Also those towns the houses will be more expensive, but property tax will be very inexpensive.

Property taxes in Westchester are a killer (I rent currently). Houses in lower Westchester are just as expensive as in Greenwich, Darien, etc. upper Westchester get's a little cheaper and Putnam County NY has good home prices. But, upper Westchester and Putnam is a longer drive commute to Stamford.

I really like living in this area. Two small cities (Stamford and White Plains, NY) that have decent night life. Night life in Norwalk and Greenwich is nice also. Plus you are a short train ride from NYC.

Shoot me a PM so I can tell you more info about the area.

BTW two former Notre Dame players are from this area.

Center John Sullivan is from Greenwich
Guard Conner Hanratty is from New Canaan

Also the former PSU and USC player Silas Redd is from Norwalk and former PSU and Cal player Khari Fortt is from Stamford.

 

[irishfan]

That may be an issue.

You're actually in luck there. Most areas of CT do not feel like Boston/New England at all. There is much more of a NY-vibe which it sounds like you may prefer haha.

 

[WaveDomer]

You're actually in luck there. Most areas of CT do not feel like Boston/New England at all. There is much more of a NY-vibe which it sounds like you may prefer haha.

I was more just busting chops. I did grow up outside NYC, but have lived in New Orleans, Dallas, LA, and now Idaho. So I am used to different paces etc.

 

[connor_in]

Step 6: Start using the word "wicked" waaaaay more than you used to

 

[ACamp1900]

Step three: Screw NYC and embrace the Boston / New England culture.

no.

Step four: Fuck ESPN

yes.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I was more just busting chops. I did grow up outside NYC, but have lived in New Orleans, Dallas, LA, and now Idaho. So I am used to different paces etc.

Lol forgot you grew up in North Jersey. You will feel at home here. 90% of fans on NYC fans. A few loser Boston fans here and there.

 

[connor_in]

Step #7: Get a good dealer to provide you with fresh maple syrup for your new freebasing habit.

 

[NDgradstudent]

You're actually in luck there. Most areas of CT do not feel like Boston/New England at all. There is much more of a NY-vibe which it sounds like you may prefer haha.

It depends where you are. This is certainly true of Fairfield County, but Eastern CT is very similar to the rest of New England. The Yankees fans are concentrated southwest of I-91/84, but since the population center of the state is over there (not sure exactly where, but probably in the Wallingford or Cheshire area) it tends in that direction.

If you are looking for a small town with solid schools, I would recommend the central part of Fairfield County: Redding, Weston, and Easton. There are good options a bit farther north, too, such as Newtown, Bethel, and Brookfield, if you are willing to have a longer commute.

Normally I would advise against moving to NY but given the now-regular tax hikes in CT it might be a better bet, as others have suggested. It's a small miracle that anybody is moving to Connecticut given the tax situation.

 

[BGIF]

My wife just got a nice job offer in Stamford

You didn't mention what your wife does, or size of company. Do they provide relocation assistance? The company can be a starting point. You can also go to Zillow and search there.

I worked in Westchester, White Plains back in the last millennium. Back then the partners mostly lived in Fairfield County and the workers mostly in Westchester Co. Homes were expensive in Westchester as well. Check Scarsdale. Back then taxes were the differential.

CT had no income tax then but that's changed. Their tax burden is comparable now to NY state according to a Money Magazine Table of Taxes by State. I was surprised to see how high the tax burden is in Idaho.

By the way we're did you live in NJ?

 

[WaveDomer]

You didn't mention what your wife does, or size of company. Do they provide relocation assistance? The company can be a starting point. You can also go to Zillow and search there.

I worked in Westchester, White Plains back in the last millennium. Back then the partners mostly lived in Fairfield County and the workers mostly in Westchester Co. Homes were expensive in Westchester as well. Check Scarsdale. Back then taxes were the differential.

CT had no income tax then but that's changed. Their tax burden is comparable now to NY state according to a Money Magazine Table of Taxes by State. I was surprised to see how high the tax burden is in Idaho.

By the way we're did you live in NJ?

Grew up around Montclair and went to high school in Jersey City. My wife works in the legal field, not a lawyer, and this job is a step up with potential. In Boise she has hit the ceiling a bit. The company is going to move us and assist with a lot of things. My mom is coming out here for a few months so I can keep working and get the kids through the semester.

 

[WaveDomer]

The bummer for me is that I just got a killer job about 4 months ago. However, I know that area has a lot more to offer in terms of where I want to go in the wine industry.

 

[dublinirish]

congrats dude, best of luck with the move

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[kmoose]

The bummer for me is that I just got a killer job about 4 months ago. However, I know that area has a lot more to offer in terms of where I want to go in the wine industry.

The bummer is that you will no longer be able to look outside on a clear day and see that gorgeous view of the Sawtooths.


Bradley is one of the airports that I service, so I am in Windsor Locks at least one day a month. It's not Stamford, but from what I have seen, CT seems to be nice enough. Where you live is usually what you make of it, though...