My 24 year old niece who lives in San Diego just got an exciting, but entry level (i.e. shoestring paycheck) job at ESPN. She has never even been to Connecticut! Until she gets to know people she wants to live in a studio or 1 BDRM apartment.

Can anyone who knows the area help with advice about which neighborhoods might be good to look in for safe, affordable housing - and conversely if there are any she should avoid? (Ultimately she will probably go the house share with others route, but for the short run she really wants to live alone and on what she will make this is going to be a challenge!)

Thanks for any direction or advice.

West Hartford has lots of places for young people to rent and is quite safe. Any of the suburban towns on that side of the river like, Newington, Simsbury, Avon, Rocky Hill, Cromwell do too but don't have the vibrant down town that West Hartford does.

Agree with West Hartford. She definitely should not live in Bristol itself - it would not be an attractive place to live for a young person new to CT.

West Hartford, Farmington, Avon and Canton would all be good places to look. Bristol, despite the ESPN location, is truly a small town with a lot of families rather than young professionals. What is her monthly budget? She'll find all housing in this area to be Much less than that of San Diego.

Canton and West Hartford rentals may be a bit less than Avon and Farmington. Other choices: Manchester CT, near the Buckland Hills Mall or Vernon. Both places have many rental options. Middletown (Westfield) also has many rental properties that are filled with students and young professionals; she'll want to check the Middletown/Cromwell area.