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Vincent S. living

Pros and cons of West Hartford after 11 years

Longtime lurker here, I'm a remote worker and Average temperature is around 52--F, so expect cold winters. The weather takes some getting used to. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Am I wrong here? Property taxes are high but you get good services. I'd say it's better for families than young singles.
23 upvotes

15 Replies

Caleb Ortiz
Bought a house here in 2019 and it's not perfect but it works for me. Property values have gone about the same since then.
40 upvotes
Isabella Moore
Moved here from Salt Lake City about 1 years ago. it exceeded my expectations. Still getting used to job market but Feel free to reach out with questions..
37 upvotes
Julia L.
This.
28 upvotes
Bruce R.
Came here for quality of life and stayed because it's exactly what I was looking for. The food scene is honestly solid and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
26 upvotes
Aiden Rodriguez
Moved here from Houston about 6 years ago. it's exactly what I was looking for. Still getting used to housing market but Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
18 upvotes
Miles Phillips
thanks for sharing
18 upvotes
Barbara F.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.

Background: I'm a marketing manager, 39, moved here 4 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Fairview and Springfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.

**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year

**What I don't love:**
1. Dating scene is rough
2. Bugs and humidity in summer
3. The safety situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving

**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Fairview: Great for remote workers. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Springfield: More affordable, family-friendly.

**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.

**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Salt Lake City, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$90K here.

**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
16 upvotes
Elena Sanders
+1
14 upvotes
Isaac Campbell
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.

Background: I'm a data analyst, 25, moved here 7 years ago from Denver. I've lived in West and Westside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.

**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally solid - I found my community within the first year

**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The public transit situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving

**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- West: Great for retirees. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Westside: More affordable, family-friendly.

**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.

**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Denver, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $60K-$110K here.

**Final verdict:**
Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
14 upvotes
sunny_mackenzie95
hard disagree but ok
12 upvotes
Jackson James
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.

If you value cultural scene, you'll love it. The job market is genuinely better than expected and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. My neighborhood (East) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.

But if you're coming from San Francisco, be prepared for the culture shock. weather is completely different here. And Traffic during rush hour is rough.

My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
10 upvotes
sacramento_isla
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are underrated, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
9 upvotes
Christina P.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from Baltimore and here's my honest breakdown:

Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Uptown. It's better than expected for what you get.

Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in legal. If you're in finance you might struggle.

People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.

Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Southern.

Would recommend to anyone considering it..
8 upvotes
Eliana Watson
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.

I'm a physical therapist who relocated here from Dallas about 11 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and retirement.

Pros I've experienced:
- Good schools in most areas
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Diverse dining options

Cons that are real:
- Limited public transit options
- Road conditions need improvement

Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are reasonable, gas is hit or miss.

Socially, I have mixed feelings honestly. Hope this helps!.
8 upvotes
Quinn Jones
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want walkability, then yeah this place is great. But if public transit matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
4 upvotes
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