Looking to move to Connecticut. Any advice where?

[JasonDVC]

My wife and our 2 kids have decided to move to Windham County in Connecticut. We are now just trying to decide on which town. We have looked at property in Brooklyn, Ct and Killingly.

We welcome any advice from anyone who lives in this area as to which towns you recommend.

TIA for any help!

 

[JasonDVC]

Any help will be appreciated

 

[Heidict]

I don't live in that area, but my SIL and family is in Norwich, which is close. I have been through both towns many times, and from what I can remember of it I liked Brooklyn better. It's a bit more quiet and secluded then Windham and I believe smaller. Of course, this means, it takes longer to get to a larger town, like Norwich.

Windham is very close to Willimantic and as a larger town you would find all the necessities of life there.

I will have to ask my SIL more info on the towns as she is more familiar with that area. Have you done a search for info on real estate and crime rates? There is a website, I believe city-data.com. You put in the city name and you can get tons of info on it.

 

[lumpydj]

Do you have to commute anywhere? That may determine which town. My sister lives in Franklin and I have friends that live in Woodstock. Both nice towns and we all transplanted from East Providence, RI. LOL

 

[marcyinPA]

I don't know that area, but we used to live south of Waterbury in a little town called Beacon Falls. My DH commuted to Stamford for work. That area of CT is really expensive. We could not afford a shoe box! We ended up renting a teeny tiny condo, which worked out OK because he was laid off about 2 years after we moved there, and we moved back home to PA. Can't say that I miss CT. I really didn't like it there.

 

[JasonDVC]

Do you have to commute anywhere? That may determine which town. My sister lives in Franklin and I have friends that live in Woodstock. Both nice towns and we all transplanted from East Providence, RI. LOL

My office is in Providence. I timed the drive from Brooklyn into my office and it was about 35 minutes. Not too bad. Killingly is a little closer though.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Brooklyn!!!

We used to live there and I wish we had never moved. It's just a gorgeous town and nice people. There business district is good, Big Y, CVS, Dunkin Donuts. All on route 6.

 

[maslex]

I live in Plainfield (about 5 minutes from Brooklyn and about 10 minutes from Killingly) DH actually works in Killingly. I like Brooklyn better only for the fact that I think it's "prettier" LOL I'm sure there are nice places in Killingly as well, but I've always liked Brooklyn for some reason. Seems real homey.

Since I don't live in either town, I can't really comment on the schools and such.

 

[chelle3807]

I am also a fellow resident of Plainfield as of now. My husband and I just bought a home in Killingly. We looked at homes in both Brooklyn and Killingly and would have been happy with either town. Brooklyn is very pretty and I feel has more of the small town charm. Where as Killingly has many new businesses (Killingly Commoms) and a brand new high school that just opened this year.

Hope that helps.

 

[Pigeon]

We lived in Pomfret Center for about six years. In many ways, I wish we hadn't had to move. It's so beautiful and relaxing.

Be careful with school districts. Some of them are not good, at least they weren't when we lived there. You also want to think about activities for the kids. The downside to being in such a rural area is that it can take some effort to make sure that your kids have things to do that will keep them out of trouble.

 

[lumpydj]

My office is in Providence. I timed the drive from Brooklyn into my office and it was about 35 minutes. Not too bad. Killingly is a little closer though.

To be honest - Rt. 6 in the winter is the worst! Unfortunately, there's no other way there from the Northeast Corner. I did the commute from where I live now (just north of Norwich) to Cranston for about a year. I was so happy when I found a job in CT. However, your 35 min commute isn't bad and you won't hit too much traffic (until you get close to the the 95 split).

As a PP said - check out the school systems if you have kids in school. That may help make your decision - as both Brooklyn and Killingly are very nice towns. Have you considered Sterling? I'm not sure what your commute would be, but that's a very nice area as well - if you like rural. Good luck!

 

[Squirrel!!!]

I at one time lived in Plainfield, Ct!!

And I, at that time, thought Brooklyn was prettier too, but haven't been back for many many years!

 

[maslex]

For those that have lived in Plainfiled in the past, can I ask where about? Just curious if it was anywhere near me. I mean, Plainfield really isn't that big. LOL I've been here for 18yrs now. Formally from the Taftville/Norwich area.

 

[KPeveler]

Stay away from Willimantic! It is very dangerous (just moved out of there - very poor, lots of heroin and meth), and the school is terrible.

Windham High School is very bad (easy to score drugs on campus, arrests on campus weekly- I had friends with kids there and they moved to another town to get them out).

Brooklyn, Pomfret, Killingly are not bad/very nice (depending on where exactly).

I should warn you (I used to drive from Willimantic to Prov several times a month), that Rt 6 in the winter is pretty dangerous. Do not plan on driving at all if there is snow currently falling. Several areas are "reduced salt areas" to preserve natural wetlands. This means the roads are very slick.

It is a beautiful drive, I will definitely say that! But Windham county is not great if you have high school age kids.

Also, it was a 45 minute drive to a target from willimantic. Without traffic. It really is pretty remote compared to what I was used to.