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Moving to Connecticut from New York: The ultimate guide

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When you’ve decided on moving to a new state or city, you often find yourself hesitating between moving and staying. The ambivalence and the confusion are even more so when you live in New York City, often deemed as “the best city on the earth.” 

Most of the people you know would be telling you that it will be the worst mistake of your life if you decide to move from New York to Connecticut. However, that’s quite an exaggeration. Every place has something to offer, and Connecticut has it in plenty. 

If you’re a New Yorker thinking of moving to Connecticut, the move can be beneficial in many ways. This article will help you choose by weighing the pros and cons involved.

Connecticut moving company

What makes Connecticut an excellent place for moving?

Connecticut, the southernmost state in the New England region of the United States, presents a compelling case for moving because of many reasons. 

1. Connecticut is more affordable for living.

You can expect to spend less on your living expenses while in Connecticut, especially if you live in a town that isn’t on a trail line that links to NYC. For example, the average living expenses for people in Danbury are nearly a third less than those in the NYC area. The exact living cost will vary depending on where in Connecticut you live, but you’ll indeed have much more financial flexibility in Connecticut.

Plus, the real estate prices are also going to give a massive relief for those who’re looking to purchase their new home. For instance, the median house cost in West Hartford is less than half of New York.

2. You’ll find plenty of great towns around Connecticut.

In Connecticut, you could purchase a home surrounded by woods, but you’ll never be far away from a nearby town. You’ll find many exciting towns in the state, including Bethel, Ridgefield, New Fairfield, and Bridgefield. The odds are you will find something of interest to you while in the state.

The small-town atmosphere of Connecticut will give you a great community experience. You will enjoy living in a town where the people care for each other and get to know one another. You might find it easier to learn about your neighbours while in Connecticut than it would be if you were in the NYC area.

3. It is still easy for you to get to NYC for work and play

Many people flock to Connecticut while retaining their NYC jobs. It is easy for people to travel between these areas. It can take about 45 to 60 minutes to get from Connecticut to NYC. You can travel down I-95, or you can use the Metro-North Train line to help you get to and from the city without worrying about traffic.

You may also receive tax benefits on the income you make while in New York. You could get a tax credit on your Connecticut taxes if you file your New York-based income as a non-resident of that state.

The fact that NYC isn’t too far off from Connecticut makes it a better place to live. Various New York public figures and artists have chosen to move from New York to Connecticut over the years. For example, prominent NYC artists Perry Barlow, Charles Saxon, and Helen Hokinson moved from NYC to Westport following the Second World War.

They found a good community there, plus it was less expensive to live in that area. But it was still easy for them and so many others to stay in touch with NYC.

4. It offers unmatched scenic beauty

The autumn foliage and tranquil country lanes are the first things that pop up in our heads when we think of Connecticut. You can go to parks such as Goodwin Park and Elizabeth Park with your family or go for a weekend hike to the Appalachian Trail or in the state parks and forest preserves. 

Wherever you are in Connecticut, you’re just a few hours away from the ocean. Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk, Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison, and Ocean Beach Park in New London are the pick of the Connecticut beaches. Long Island shoreline, picturesque mountain ranges, beautiful parks…Connecticut has almost everything a nature lover could ask for. 

5. Delicious food

There’s no reason to lower your food expectations from the birthplace of the hamburger, right? It has some of the best restaurants, pubs, and bars to satisfy your cravings. Apart from the apparent hamburgers, you get great seafood, pizzas, steak, and BBQ. So whether you’re a resident, visitor, student or a professional, the food of Connecticut won’t disappoint you. 

6. Top-class education system

Connecticut has one of the best public education systems in the country. These schools are as good as private ones. It is also home to Yale and great community colleges. Connecticuters are some of the most well-read people you’ll come across.

7. Excellent economic opportunities

Connecticut has always had a strong economy. It has one of the highest per capita incomes in the country and one of the lowest poverty rates. Some of the most popular industries are architecture, engineering, education, healthcare, business and financial operations, etc.

Living in New York vs Connecticut: Which one is better?

ParameterNYCHartford, Connecticut
Cost of LivingThe living cost in New York, the most expensive city in the USA, is $3284 for a person and $7239 for a family.The living cost for a person in Hartford is $1,023 and $3,757 for a family. It’s almost one-third of New York.
House PricesThe median home price in New York is $737,699.The median house price in Hartford is $144,767, almost one-fifth of New York.
WeatherOn average, New York witnesses 224 sunny days, 46.6 inches of rain and 25.3 inches of snow every year. 

The weather in NYC is pleasant, but Winters can be challenging at times.
Hartford, CT, sees 189 sunny days, 49 inches of rain and 
38 inches of snow on a yearly average. It’s almost the same as New York.
Per Capita IncomeIn 2020, NYC’s per capita income was $74,472. It is lower than Connecticut.Connecticut showed a per capita income of $78,609 during the same period. It’s higher than NYC.
Crime RateThe crime rate in NYC is less compared to Hartford, CT.Hartford, CT, has a much higher crime rate compared to NYC.
Unemployment Rate11.2%14.0%

What’s it like to live in Connecticut?: Here’s what the residents have to say

John Harrity, a Retired Union Representative, gives an honest take on life in Connecticut:

“I have been a social activist all my life, in the labor movement. CT is a very progressive state. Since 2006, no Republicans have been elected to Congress. In terms of Governor and the state legislature, it goes back and forth. But people here are willing to fight for what they believe.

Because it is a small state, it’s manageable in terms of getting to speak with, and know, the state’s legislators, commissioners and the Governor. Legislators do not have to drive all day or catch a flight to get back & forth to their districts, and you can call them at home. People in Ct are smart and have opinions. I heard a person say if you went to a movie with a group in Ohio, afterwards, everyone would say, “ That was nice.” In CT, there would be debate and analysis, and well-informed points of view.

There is great disparity of income and opportunity based on race, unfortunately. But there is never a cessation of efforts to break down these barriers and strive towards social justice. My guess is despite the presence of racism here, it is generally challenged and may be less than many other states.

I live in a small town by the MA border. Population of 2,600. Very rural. But we are only two hours drive from some of the most vibrant metro centers in the US, and in particular, Boston & NYC. Best of both worlds.

I’ll stop there. The things I have cited may not matter to you, or be anathema to your beliefs. But I’m just conveying my own experience.”

Here’s another interesting take in the life in Connecticut by Diane Buxo:

“Depending on your views about New England, Connecticut can be a good choice. Of course, this depends a great deal on your personal taste, your career and educational goals, etc. Connecticut is considered southern New England, so its winters are not as extreme as the more northern New England states and spring usually starts sometime in late March or early April. However, since we have such extreme weather now all over the country, all bets are off! in the past few years I had one Thanksgiving where I was able to decorate my table with fresh flowers that were still blooming in my yard, yet this year we had a considerable snowfall and major freeze before that date.

Connecticut has plenty of history going back to colonial times, and a pretty coastline along with two Native American casinos that are popular with New Yorkers and Bostonians alike. But because it’s midway between those two cities, wages tend to be stagnant in some fields. It’s a very education-conscious state with several good universities and some great public schools. But its cities have been left to decline and their housing stock and public schools reflect this – although some government leaders are working on the problem, some suburban dwellers could care less. They fail to see that in such a small state, ignoring our neighbors will bring down all of us.

My personal view is that Connecticut can be a nice place to live, especially for families. It can be a bit boring for young people (except on their college campuses) and for singles or non-conservative seniors. Those who don’t like “high tax, high regulation” states may reflect that in Connecticut, you get something for your money.”

Moving from NYC to Connecticut: Hire an NYC moving company or DIY?

If you’ve decided to move from NYC to Connecticut, you have two choices in front of you: doing it by yourself or hiring an NYC moving company. The former can be a straightforward choice if you’ve got a few boxes to move. However, it gets complicated if you’re moving with your family.

Doing it all saves you money, but it will be a physically and mentally taxing job. Ask anyone who’s moved before, and they’ll tell the same stressful story. However, no one rule applies to all. Let’s compare both options to weigh the pros and cons of each.

FactorHire MoversDo it Yourself
Stress & TimeIt’s a much more peaceful experience as movers do everything required to help you relocate from NYC to Connecticut. They do all the thinking, packing, heavy lifting, and loading. 

Plus, it saves you a ton of time as they’re experts at their job.
If you decide to move by yourself, you will need to undergo a lot of physical and mental stress as you need to take care of all moving parts. 

You will need to take help from your friends or neighbours to do the heavy lifting.
Moving Tools & EquipmentNYC movers have all packing tools and gears that expedite the moving process.As you won’t have all the tools at your home, you will need to buy them or work with less effective ones. Moreover, you will have to learn to use it.
Comparative Moving CostIt costs you money as you’re paying for a service. Time-wise, it is much cheaper as it saves you days.You save good money by doing it by yourself. But you and your family will need to invest a few days in it. Plus, it will take a day or two to rest as it strains you physically and mentally.
Additional ExpensesYou won’t need to do any other expense except the truck gas.Apart from moving material and gas costs, you will need to consider food expenses along the way.
Moving Costs (in numbers)Local Moving: $1,100 to $2500
Long Distance Moving: $5,000 to $8,000
Local moving: $1,300 to $1600
Long Distance Moving: $4,000 to $7,000

Connecticut is a beautiful place for moving, but the process of doing so can be daunting. Reliable NYC movers can help you move from NYC to Connecticut with ease. They provide a thorough approach to moving that ensures all your items will stay safe and protected during the shipping process.

You get the below services when you hire an NYC moving company:

  • Packing your items
  • Creating crates and other storage containers for specialty goods
  • Disassembling your furniture
  • Storing your items
  • Transporting your goods
  • Furniture reassembly at your new site

Moving to Connecticut from New York: Let the journey begin

Moving from NYC to Connecticut will undoubtedly be a life-changing event for your family. It’s a beautiful place that has its unique vibe and advantages. It would help if you began it on a good note to settle in quite nicely. The most obvious way to do that and give yourself peace of mind is to hire a reliable moving company. Happy moving 🙂

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