Moving from VA to CT
 

I know this is a travel website but I since most people on here are familiar w an area in order to answer travel questions, I thought I would seek help on here for moving.

We are moving from a relatively small town in Virginia to CT. The job will be in Bridgeport, CT. We have visited Bridgeport and not knocking it but I would prefer to live somewhere else that is less city and more family oriented and drive there to work. Any town ideas? We would prefer more land with a house than on top of one another.

Also, being from VA we get snow and all in the winter. But we are moving to CT in Jan. Am I in for a rude awakening with the winters? I have three small kids. Do they need like parkas and multiple layers of clothes in the winter in CT?

Anything fun for us to do when we move with the kids? I know NYC is on the list. Do u drive into NYC and fight traffic or take a train? I would love to see beaches too but I notice most don't seem like beaches I'm used to since the sound makes no waves. Any places near there for wave beaches great for kids? Is the jersey shore too far or is there some place closer?

We are excited. We recently visited Hoboken, NJ and my kids saw a park next to the Hudson River that had the coolest playground equipment we have never seen before. We are hoping for more experiences like this but maybe in CT?

Thanks!

Woodburt, Southbury, Newtown, CT

Most people take metro north from Bridgeport area to get to NYC. Driving to/in the city can be problematic and parking is expensive.
Yes, your kids will need warm parkas and layers, we have winter here, but it is generally handled pretty well and the roads are cleared quickly. The bridges on some highways have been pre treated with chemicals to fight the ice already - on the negative side the chemicals rot out the cars and trucks, including brake lines, as well as frames, etc.
For beaches with waves, head east to Rhode Island. Misquamicut state beach, Watch Hill, Charlestown, Metunic, Moonstone, etc. much closer (and nicer) than Jersey.

If you live in NOVA, it won't be hugely different except for the weather and the cost of living: lots of traffic, good schools, pretty much anything you want to eat, buy, or do within easy reach. SW Connecticut at commuting time is almost exactly like the Beltway. There are not really small towns in the sense that, say, Kilmarnock is a small town. In this area, suburb runs into suburb runs into city.

The weather will be very different. Fall, which is beautiful, comes much earlier, spring comes later (Mid-April). and in between is winter. Your children will need much warmer clothing, gloves or mittens, hats and earmuffs, and water proof shoes or boots. You will need the same, plus a scarf. On the coast, where you are going, it is warmer than inland but much colder than VA.

In Richmond, where we go for the winter in order to be warm :-) we see people go out to their cars in shirtsleeves or a light jacket in the morning when it is below freezing because it will be 55 by lunch. This won't happen in CT until maybe late March. You are going to feel like Bibendum the Michelin Man by then. You will be sooooo sick of putting on winter clothes! But even in summer, you will need a cotton sweater or two most evenings.

Snow. CT is no VT but it is no VA either, and the schools don't close when the flakes fall. The authorities do a better job keeping the roads clear than VA does, but six inches of snow will still mess things up pretty well. The Gold Coast (Fairfield County) has had a string of worse than average winters. Since things tend to return to the mean, you may get lucky and have a few better than average winters. I hope so because I drive between Richmond and Boston monthly.

There is far more to do in this area than in most parts of Virginia, and I like Virginia. Boating, particularly sailing, is big. The sound beaches don't have waves, but they are otherwise great. Think "Chesapeake Bay." Plenty of waves in Rhode Island, and it isn't very far away. In between is Mystic Seaport. To the north are the scenic Litchfield Hills and then the Berkshires. NY is easy to get to (no, don't drive), though flying to many places is a pain, but not worse than from Richmond.

It is expensive; particularly if you are not living in NOVA, you will experience sticker shock. Gasoline in Connecticut was almost $2 per gallon higher at the beginning of November than when I left Richmond.

My father was military, and we moved about every 30 months. We survived because our mother always emphasized the opportunity in moving: new friends, new food, new places to see. We were not encouraged to say or even think, "Back when we were in . . . ." You have an adventure ahead of you. Enjoy it!

I was writing while emalloy was posting. Nice to see that we agree!

One way to get to great beaches (but not just for te day) is to take the ferry to LI - which has incrdible Atlantic beaches - miles and miles o fpure white snad ith pounding waves from the open ocean. There are some state parks (even one with camping I think) plus a number of inns, motels and condo colonies. If interested check out the car ferries to LI. Better than Jersey shore and much closer.

To get into the City definitely take Metro North rather than drive - a car is a nonsense in Manhattan.

Sorry can;t help with specific places to live, but obviously Bridgeport isn't it. And yes, you will all need real winter clothing. Esp important are warm lined boots, not rain boots (your feet will freeze otherwise) with non-skid soles for the ice/sleet/snow.

But then your kids will have a grater chance of winter fun - from sledding (check for ocal hills) to building snow men, snow forts, snowball fights etc.

In Richmond, where we go for the winter in order to be warm :-) we see people go out to their cars in shirtsleeves or a light jacket in the morning when it is below freezing because it will be 55 by lunch.
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I resemble this remark :-)

Posters above have pretty well answered your questions. I'd add only that if you want a little more room between houses, to look at towns such as Wilton, Weston and Easton, away from the coast.

Presuming you want to live west of Bridgeport to commute against the flow of traffic, Metro North will take you into the city and children pay only a nominal fare. For surf beaches, consider driving over the Whitestone or the Throgs Neck Bridge and across Long Island to Jones Beach or Robert Moses State Park on Fire Island. It's shorter than heading to the excellent beaches of Rhode Island and a much different experience.

You have received excellent advice already. I am wondering what amount of time your husband is willing to commute. That would certainly make a difference to the suggestions you may receive as to where to live. You could easily stay on the shoreline (always less snow and somewhat warmer-unless a Nor'Easter comes) and your husband could commute by Metro North and Shoreline East. You need to figure that portion out and then perhaps there could be more suggestions for places to consider.
As for clothing, again, you have received great advice but the only thing I would add is invest in good quality layers (North Face, Patagonia, Columbia) and you will be far better off and need far fewer items. I was born and raised in Southern California and moved here in my early twenties. I started off with cheaper stuff and I suffered. Once I got GOOD winter wear, I have been just fine.

JanetKR, you should follow odie's advice about clothing! You can be warm!

I hate the bulk and navigation of a coat. It is very rare that I wear one. Usually I am in a football stadium in Blacksburg :-)

A good realtor and your husband's new co-workers ( who also have children) will be able to help decide where you should live. With kids, unless you are looking at private school, you obviously should concentrate on where the good school districts are. Going north and west from Bridgeport is Milford, Orange and Woodbridge(good schools). There are also good school districts in Fairfield County like Trumbull, Moroe, Westport, Redding, etc. but I don't know your price range. New Haven has tons of stuff for kids but so does Fairfield County. Bridgeport has Beardsley Zoo and Norwalk has a great Aquarium. As you go house or apartment hunting, you can find out more. And yes, winter can be brutal. Last year was snowy and cold and winter ended very late. Your children will need down coats boots, snow pants and all that good stuff and so will you. Having a 4-wheel or all wheel drive car is also a good idea. The plus side is that you are only about 2-3 hours away from decent skiing, close to the Shoreline, NYC, Boston and Long Island.

We are very excited but I'm nervous at the same time. Thank you all for the great info!
We are not from NOVA. It's a different world in NOVA. We live outside of Roanoke Va and I see someone said they are usually in Blacksburg at a football game. We went to VA Tech and lived in Blacksburg for years. But now live 45 min away from Blacksburg. So there isn't traffic. Everyone drives. No trains. All that will be new to us.
I don't believe my husband will be willing to ride a train, metro or something to work just bc he's not used to it all. He may one day. But we are just so used to cars.
Schools do not matter bc I homeschool my kids. I went to school to be a teacher and I just prefer to teach them. So the house doesn't have to be in a good school district. We are going to rent a house for a while so we make sure we can move to a different area in a year or so if we didn't like that particular town.
My husband is willing to drive about 40 min or so. But I don't know if traffic is a stand still in the mornings or not.
I do see the high price differences in CT. Especially when compared to southwest VA. Our house we have in VA is 4xs the price in CT.
We are excited to see something new and experience new things. There is nothing to do in our town so everyone gets in everyone's business because they are bored. :)
Thanks for the info. I'm going to write y'alls suggestions down. One more thing... Does y'all or ma'am or sir offend in CT?

Look at real estate in Fairfield. Nice town, good schools, town beaches on the Sound. The closer to NYC, the higher the prices. Fairfield is farther out for NY commuters so more reasonable and since you'll be working in B'Port, it would be perfect.

Bless your heart. I'm sorry. You'll have to get a friend to send you grits and peanuts and country ham. Make sure you extend your subscriptions to Garden and Gun, Southern Living, and Virginia Living. Never be ashamed of your good Southern manners and just laugh when they ask you what a Hokie is.

I suggest one of those "new" things you are so looking forward to BECOME the ability to get OVER driving a car everywhere.

Well... We aren't your typical southerners I guess. Don't own a gun. Never shot an animal. Never would. But I will miss my sweet tea (y'all have it but doesn't taste the same) :) and biscuits and gravy from Hardee's. And Krispy Kreme (maybe y'all have one??) But when we visit Philly (we go to Philly about 8 times a year bc we have to take my son to the hospital there) everyone tells me not to call them ma'am or sir. I still can't figure out if it's just they think I'm calling them old or they find it offending or what. Maybe CT is diff than Philly. Just don't want to think I'm offending someone. :)

I'm willing to get over the car. Not sure about husband. Lol. He freaks when we go to Philly and I mention septa.

I'm excited to live so close to the beach too BTW.

Thanks for the help on the towns too. I'm going to start my research now. I feel better with some insight. Thanks!!

A forty minute commute would open up options in some great shoreline towns as well. Guilford, Madison and Branford are forty minutes away and you should be able to find more bang for your buck and a house with more land, but the rental market might have fewer options.