Should we relocate from Naperville to CT for family? (Chicago: hardwood floors, apartments)

[cl2012]

We love everything about Naperville! We have an only child about to enter kindergarten who is gifted. However, my husband's large family lives in CT--Hamden, West Haven area. We'd like to be close to his family, but we love Naperville.

Here is what we're looking for in CT:

Renting an apartment with hardwood floors for about $1600/month
Sidewalks
Well manicured landscaping in community so it looks pretty when driving/walking
Safe neighborhoods
Top public schools with gifted programs
Access to fine and performing arts
A college nearby
Access to a body of water
Access to a hospital
Access to children's activities
Good family community
An area that can respond well to snow so the cars can get through during storms

We are concerned about the higher cost of living too. Are there any cities anyone can recommend in CT that fit the criteria?

[knitgirl]

Why are you posting this in the Chicago suburbs forum? I think you'd get more specific responses if you post in CT.

[kidyankee764]

Greenwich, CT IMO is similar to Naperville (not exactly as walkable though), but get ready to pay premium in that area for a house ($1m for a very modest ranch style home). Fairfield County, being right outside of NYC, is one of the most expensive areas in the nation.

West Haven is arguably one of the worst towns in CT to raise a family (crime, etc). Hamden is so-so. I wouldn't recommend it.

[cl2012]

Thanks for the information. I posted in IL and CT. I posted in IL because I know there are people who live in Naperville now that used to live in CT. Those are the people that will really understand what I'm looking for and be able to speak about the pros and cons of both areas.

Are there any former residents of CT who are now living in Naperville that can offer some kind words of wisdom?

[TheWayISeeThings]

Originally Posted by cl2012

Thanks for the information. I posted in IL and CT. I posted in IL because I know there are people who live in Naperville now that used to live in CT. Those are the people that will really understand what I'm looking for and be able to speak about the pros and cons of both areas.

Are there any former residents of CT who are now living in Naperville that can offer some kind words of wisdom?

I grew up in CT and now live in Wheaton. I grew up in SE CT around Groton/New London. My grandparents lived in East Haven along Phorbes Place, which was lovely when I was a child, but I believe New Haven has seen a lot of change in the past 20 years, so I am not the best one to speak to that.

Homes in area's that have easy access to NYC are going to be very expensive. Even out in the more remote areas, home prices are still high. Places like Fairfield and Norwalk are very expensive.

I can in no way speak to the schools in the area. Anything around New Haven and Danbury, Bridgeport is going to be very urban in nature, and the culture will be quite different than what your kids are used to in Naperville. Areas like Old Saybrook and Old Lyme will be closer to what you are used to, but with less access to the city and to entertainment venues.

Avoid: Bridgeport, probably Milford, Waterbury, Danbury, and New Haven (in various areas).

Nice areas that may be as much as 45 minutes from East Haven: Fairfield, Norwalk, Stamford, Westbrook, Hamden, Old Saybrook, Old Lyme, Wallingford, Madison area (I worked for CL&P here in the late 80's and it was a pretty area). I don't know much about Guilford, but check it out too.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by TheWayISeeThings

Avoid: Bridgeport, probably Milford, Waterbury, Danbury, and New Haven (in various areas).

Nice areas that may be as much as 45 minutes from East Haven: Fairfield, Norwalk, Stamford, Westbrook, Hamden, Old Saybrook, Old Lyme, Wallingford, Madison area (I worked for CL&P here in the late 80's and it was a pretty area). I don't know much about Guilford, but check it out too.

For the most part, I agree. But there are some things you said that lead me to believe you haven't been here in awhile....such as not recommending Milford and recommending East Haven. Milford is a great, bustling town that has no bad or crappy areas. Schools are good. Downtown is beautiful. You have access to Metro North into NYC.

East Haven is a blue collar suburb with some white collar mixed in along the shoreline. It's not that I wouldn't recommend it, as it's one of the most affordable communities in Connecticut, but the schools are not "good" in my opinion.

The OP has a budget of 200k. You can't get ANYTHING decent for 200k in a good portion of CT, as home prices there start in the millions for something modest. Perhaps a tiny, dated condo along the railroad tracks. Even in the rest of Connecticut, a 200k home will likely require renovations or be in a very sketchy area. Because of the cost of living here, the OP will need to sacrifice something.

Honestly, the cost of living here is very high and I wouldn't recommend the OP make the move unless they can have a HH income of at least 100k. If you have the money to live in a nice suburb, the quality of life is unmatched. Otherwise, you're stuck in one of the major cities (and that's not a good thing as it's very suburban oriented here). I do know how it is to not live near family, and if willing to live in a small condo to do so, then they can. Ultimately they have to decide if it's worth it.

PS - get ready to pay a yearly car tax. I got a bill for $629 the other day.

Good luck.

[TheWayISeeThings]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

For the most part, I agree. But there are some things you said that lead me to believe you haven't been here in awhile....

Yes, 20 years. I return to visit, but to the SE coast which is in the sticks, so to speak.

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

The OP has a budget of 200k. You can't get ANYTHING decent for 200k in a good portion of CT, as home prices there start in the millions for something modest.

In the post above, the OP doesn't state a 200K budget, only that they are interested in a $1600/mo rental price. You can barely get anything in Naperville for that price and then it would be a condo or maybe an older townhouse. So I was assuming their budget would be somewhere between 300-600k. I was clearly off the mark on cost of living--probably based on home prices in SE CT where you can still get a home for $300-400K. Naperville property values will range from 300K - around a million.

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

PS - get ready to pay a yearly car tax. I got a bill for $629 the other day. Good luck.

Yeah, I don't miss the property taxes in CT. Do you guys have an income tax though? When I was there, we did not, and that was the trade off. Property tax vs. income tax. If CT has adopted an income tax as well, then that would just suck.

[Vlajos]

As of 2011, the income tax rates on Connecticut individuals are divided into six tax brackets of 3%, 5%, 5.5%, 6%, 6.5% and 6.7%.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by TheWayISeeThings

Yes, 20 years. I return to visit, but to the SE coast which is in the sticks, so to speak.

That's my favorite part of the state; especially the Old Saybrook area. It's my version of paradise, I love it.

Originally Posted by TheWayISeeThings

In the post above, the OP doesn't state a 200K budget, only that they are interested in a $1600/mo rental price. You can barely get anything in Naperville for that price and then it would be a condo or maybe an older townhouse. So I was assuming their budget would be somewhere between 300-600k. I was clearly off the mark on cost of living--probably based on home prices in SE CT where you can still get a home for $300-400K. Naperville property values will range from 300K - around a million.

Forgot to mention that the OP gave a 200k budget in the CT forum. SE CT is probably the most affordable area in the state (but IMO the most stress-free). The problem in that area is lack of jobs. You have Groton/New London as centers, as well as the casinos, but for the most part you'd have to commute to New Haven, Hartford or Providence (the latter of which is in a state that's really hurting - RI).

Originally Posted by TheWayISeeThings

Yeah, I don't miss the property taxes in CT. Do you guys have an income tax though? When I was there, we did not, and that was the trade off. Property tax vs. income tax. If CT has adopted an income tax as well, then that would just suck.

The property taxes stink, but lots of people here have the mentality that "it's more affordable than Westchester County, so we have it good!" while paying 12k - what I pay - on a 3,000 SF house. That said, I do hear the Chicago area is pretty bad with taxes, so it might not be a shock to the OP.

As for income tax, oh yes. That changed in the 90's I believe, and is approximately 6% (maybe higher?). We also have the highest gas tax in the nation, the highest cigarette tax in the nation (which I'm okay with actually), and are consistently ranked the state with the highest tax burden. Not the best claim to fame.

So housing wise, the OP might only see a minor COL difference if moving to central CT. Eastern CT, they might find comparable to where they are now. West of New Haven is probably out of their reach unless, as you mentioned, they look at Bridgeport or West Haven. IMO, they should avoid those towns if coming from Naperville.

[cl2012]

Thanks for all the information. With housing, since the market is so bad, there are houses in Naperville available for $150,000 that would be fine to live in. We only need 2 BR and about 1300-1500 sq ft. I grew up in apartments in Oak Park and Evanston --old buildings (1920's) and wouldn't mind finding that again, but in CT. We just aren't willing to sacrifice safety and quality of education. I'd love to rent an apt. again. It would be so much easier than owning.