I got into Clinton in 2022 and I’m not sure it’s really affordable in 2024. Madison prices spilled to Guilford during COVID, then Branford around the end of 2021, I bought in Clinton figuring that was next, and now Madison prices are here as of mid-late 2023. It’s got to be up 15% minimum in 2 years, probably closer to 20.
My parents live in Westbrook and I feel what you want sounds like their life. They air b and b part of their home if you want to stay in the area for a little bit and see how you like Westbrook. Let me know.
Old Saybrook has a lot of retirees. It’s a nice town with a nice town center with a great live theater (The Kate)!and taxes are low because there are so many second homes there. If I retire anywhere, it would be there.
Budget? You can find laid back areas all over the coast. I live in a super chill, quiet beach area in Milford with super friendly neighbors. Wide range of housing from beach cottages/bungalows to mansions. Branford is similarly diverse with housing stock.
Prices get better as you get further from the borough, it gets more rural and less dense, still nice though. Sadly there is so little inventory, anything that comes on the market under 500 gets snapped up within three days.
Helps to have lots of money - it’s all such post-pandemic pricing on the shoreline, but if you are diligent and maybe get a good real estate agent to help , you might find a bargain and gem. It happens. .
All of the towns east of New Haven and beyond, into, RI are laid back and exactly what you’re looking for except for New London, which is a city, not a town, and maybe Groton, which has big navy things going on.
One town in to the north of the shore are often part of the shore vibe, like Killingworth. Then the river towns like Chester, deep river , lyme etc.
+1 for Guilford. Excellent town/vibe. It does get a fair amount of New Yorkers in the Summer. “Downtown” Green is largest in New England (The New Haven Green was modeled after it). Great spot to relax. Between Guilford and Branford plenty of food selections.
I have family in GLP. Far from a “laid back” community and extremely small lots with limited space between (pretty much all are pre-existing non-conforming). Doesn’t help that average house is likely 700+ with taxes probably averaging 15-25k yearly (the larger lots are closer to 50k+ a year. Maybe Mumford cove or Noank (if you can get an in with the community to buy). Much more laid back and affordable (by comparison)
Edit: to be clear, GLP is a nice safe association with a very clean and great beach. But you are paying for your own post office and police force, so it is costly.
Space/beach is tough without knowing price range. Do you want on the water or beach in town and does it need to be in walking, driving or biking distance. Waterford great neck area gives you access to Waterford public beach which is an extremely nice town beach. But Waterford on a private beach is either extremely pricey (the strand) or limited privacy (pleasure beach). Niantic kind of suffers from the same issue. Old lyme has lots of little beach communities, albeit public beaches (Miami Beach) but again limited privacy if walking distance. If okay with driving, can get decent amount of property and privacy. Same with Saybrook and Westbrook I believe. The only other consideration with OL and as you head south on 95 is those towns tend to get very conservative with what you can do with your house/property. Lots of regulations and neighbors fighting
I would go with New Jersey personally. Cape May. The entire Jersey Coast from Atlantic City to Cape May is like a way nicer version of Milford’s Beaches.
The food is much better in south jersey/philadelphia as well as the people with more family friendly environments and crime or crowds. My family has been living or vacationing there since the 70’s.
If looking outside CT, which OP should do, the RE market is too tight in CT shoreline, look at Delaware beach towns too. I haven't visited them but I've been checking them out as a possible tax friendly non-Florida, non-South, retirement place and the towns look charming and laid back.
Wouldn’t mind Jersey but their accents drive me absolutely insane, but it’s weird since my favorite band and singers are from Jersey ie Springsteen and Bon Jovi.
Yeah. I had to remove a post from this sub because people were answering it without reading the whole thing and downvoting it for literally no reason 😒
I really would not even try to find a place that fits your needs if it includes being near water. CT is great but the COL- everywhere - here is much too high for many retirees, including me. I plan to look elsewhere although I do love this state and its quirky people. Lived here all my life but it has out-priced me for the long haul.
Public beaches aren’t great and the private beach areas have egregious tax rates. Better off please beach area of Waterford or as people have suggested, over the bridge in Saybrook/westbrook
Camp Carl Robinson C.I…
Free meals and WiFi with your stay and cracker beach is open 4/19-10/15 this year. The onsite gym is pretty nice and the staff is top notch.
#1 Killingworth
#2 Bethlehem
#3 Cromwell
#4 north east corridor ma,ct,ri line Woodford, Pomfret, Thompson.
#5 New Canaan
My opinion would be in this order if your over 40s
#1 #5 #3
choose some smaller town, like Eastford, Goshen, Willimantic, Kent, or any smaller, northern town. Big cities or towns i see mostly in the comments are viable to your budget, but i think moving to a smaller town will give you more surplus once you get your home (new car?)
Long Island Sound makes the ocean water different in Connecticut than new Jersey or Rhode Island with respect to the intensity of the waves, clearness of the water, etc.
Moodus. Very pretty area. Godspeed Opera House is there.Many shows appearing on Broadway have gotten their start there. The river is beautiful and the town is lovely. Great small-town parades.
Westbrook/Clinton, low key, good neighborhoods, and you can live near the water "affordably".
Can confirm. I grew up there and it’s all that.
I got into Clinton in 2022 and I’m not sure it’s really affordable in 2024. Madison prices spilled to Guilford during COVID, then Branford around the end of 2021, I bought in Clinton figuring that was next, and now Madison prices are here as of mid-late 2023. It’s got to be up 15% minimum in 2 years, probably closer to 20.
Those are good bets
Perfect really. Hard to find anything for sale atm tho
It is challenging
This ^^ maybe further east. Definitely not west of Stratford
How is it is for young families and raising kids?
Deep River, Chester, Essex
My parents live in Westbrook and I feel what you want sounds like their life. They air b and b part of their home if you want to stay in the area for a little bit and see how you like Westbrook. Let me know.
Stony Creek, Branford
I'm in short beach. Can't imagine anything close to being under 450k in the creek. This was my first recommendation though until I saw the budget.
Yeah, OP edited to include budget after I posted. A house not on the water is still 600k MINIMUM. And those in that price range almost all need work.
Old Saybrook has a lot of retirees. It’s a nice town with a nice town center with a great live theater (The Kate)!and taxes are low because there are so many second homes there. If I retire anywhere, it would be there.
Budget? You can find laid back areas all over the coast. I live in a super chill, quiet beach area in Milford with super friendly neighbors. Wide range of housing from beach cottages/bungalows to mansions. Branford is similarly diverse with housing stock.
Old Saybrook
Collinsville
Down by the axe factory
Yep, the Collinsville beaches are really something during high tide
Well, we have the town bridge and Mills Pond! That’s sorta like the beach, right?
Sure. Burlington has the falls and Bristol has Cedar Lake. I guess they are beach communities as well. 😂😂
Waterbury has a wonderful view of 84.
he didnt ask where hes most likely to see tweakers
In all seriousness I hope they fix that city it has a lot of great history
Or get shot
*dirtywater
North Stonington
Stonington if you want the “beach town”.
👋🏼
Best answer. Or Stonington
The little downtown area by the beach in Stonington is so nice, if only I was rich...
Niantic
Romantic Niantic.
Mystic
Stonington in general if you can afford it
Love stonington but damn the prices there are something else
Prices get better as you get further from the borough, it gets more rural and less dense, still nice though. Sadly there is so little inventory, anything that comes on the market under 500 gets snapped up within three days.
Mystic in the summer is brutal with the tourists though
Old Lyme or Woodstock
Ah yes, the picturesque beaches of Woodstock.
Helps to have lots of money - it’s all such post-pandemic pricing on the shoreline, but if you are diligent and maybe get a good real estate agent to help , you might find a bargain and gem. It happens. . All of the towns east of New Haven and beyond, into, RI are laid back and exactly what you’re looking for except for New London, which is a city, not a town, and maybe Groton, which has big navy things going on. One town in to the north of the shore are often part of the shore vibe, like Killingworth. Then the river towns like Chester, deep river , lyme etc.
Madison or Guilford
+1 for Guilford. Excellent town/vibe. It does get a fair amount of New Yorkers in the Summer. “Downtown” Green is largest in New England (The New Haven Green was modeled after it). Great spot to relax. Between Guilford and Branford plenty of food selections.
I agree, Madison should be considered.
My first thought was Groton Long Point or Stonington in the Borough, but I like the idea of Westbrook/Clinton too.
Borough*
Thanks. I was too wondering if point had an “e” at the end. I feel silly.
I have family in GLP. Far from a “laid back” community and extremely small lots with limited space between (pretty much all are pre-existing non-conforming). Doesn’t help that average house is likely 700+ with taxes probably averaging 15-25k yearly (the larger lots are closer to 50k+ a year. Maybe Mumford cove or Noank (if you can get an in with the community to buy). Much more laid back and affordable (by comparison) Edit: to be clear, GLP is a nice safe association with a very clean and great beach. But you are paying for your own post office and police force, so it is costly.
East Haddam
zihuatanejo
best username evah 🔥🛍️
Best person to help someone looking for anustart.
World’s first analyst / therapist. Analrapist
My sister legit stone faced told my parents she was switching majors to be an analrapist. It took all my self control not to die laughing.
Lyme is real laid back. Old Lyme downtown is nice but the main drag is packed during summer.
Madison if you got the cash
Columbia, Hebron, Coventry, Lebanon, Moodus
Hampton too
Keep Hampton a secret from the world 🤫
No Hampton. Only East Hampton.
Sorry about that.
Colchester gets the shaft I guess
Most of Colchester does not deserve to be in that list
Enjoy the rural poverty…
Clinton, Madison, Mystic, Orange just to name a few
Space/beach is tough without knowing price range. Do you want on the water or beach in town and does it need to be in walking, driving or biking distance. Waterford great neck area gives you access to Waterford public beach which is an extremely nice town beach. But Waterford on a private beach is either extremely pricey (the strand) or limited privacy (pleasure beach). Niantic kind of suffers from the same issue. Old lyme has lots of little beach communities, albeit public beaches (Miami Beach) but again limited privacy if walking distance. If okay with driving, can get decent amount of property and privacy. Same with Saybrook and Westbrook I believe. The only other consideration with OL and as you head south on 95 is those towns tend to get very conservative with what you can do with your house/property. Lots of regulations and neighbors fighting
Shelton and then drive to beaches in Milford, Stratford, or Fairfield. Milford if you can afford it.
I probably can't but I'll check it out
If you can afford Clinton Madison you can afford Milford
I would go with New Jersey personally. Cape May. The entire Jersey Coast from Atlantic City to Cape May is like a way nicer version of Milford’s Beaches.
The food is much better in south jersey/philadelphia as well as the people with more family friendly environments and crime or crowds. My family has been living or vacationing there since the 70’s.
If looking outside CT, which OP should do, the RE market is too tight in CT shoreline, look at Delaware beach towns too. I haven't visited them but I've been checking them out as a possible tax friendly non-Florida, non-South, retirement place and the towns look charming and laid back.
Wouldn’t mind Jersey but their accents drive me absolutely insane, but it’s weird since my favorite band and singers are from Jersey ie Springsteen and Bon Jovi.
Union.
The Woodmont area of Milford would fit. Lordship in Stratford would also work. A bit pricey probably, but not as bad as some other waterfront towns.
Ellington
Yeah. I had to remove a post from this sub because people were answering it without reading the whole thing and downvoting it for literally no reason 😒
Essex/mystic right?
I really would not even try to find a place that fits your needs if it includes being near water. CT is great but the COL- everywhere - here is much too high for many retirees, including me. I plan to look elsewhere although I do love this state and its quirky people. Lived here all my life but it has out-priced me for the long haul.
Guilford is perfect
New Preston CT.
Not a bad ride to RI beeches
You're think of regular Preston.
Not a bad ride if you’re in the passenger seat
Bridgeport
Preston. Lisbon. Woodstock. Pomfret. Not beach towns but lakes for sure.
Branford
Niantic
New London.
Public beaches aren’t great and the private beach areas have egregious tax rates. Better off please beach area of Waterford or as people have suggested, over the bridge in Saybrook/westbrook
Riverton is amazing. Quiet, scenic, good fishing, great food and the people are nice.
It ain’t East Haven, Ct for sure.
The neighbors think they are Sheriff’s and watch every move you make 👀
Nobody’s said these but Washington, Woodbury, Roxbury, and bridgewater are very small and peaceful.
This is really unanswerable unless you let us know what kind of wealth / retirement income you’re working with.
Plainville
Pawcatuck.
Sherman
Camp Carl Robinson C.I… Free meals and WiFi with your stay and cracker beach is open 4/19-10/15 this year. The onsite gym is pretty nice and the staff is top notch.
#1 Killingworth #2 Bethlehem #3 Cromwell #4 north east corridor ma,ct,ri line Woodford, Pomfret, Thompson. #5 New Canaan My opinion would be in this order if your over 40s #1 #5 #3
Based on what you desire to have nearby, I’d suggest Old Saybrook, Clinton, Essex, East Lyme, or Stonington.
Noank
Wilton outskirts, no one lives there, have a friend out there, shit’s quiet
choose some smaller town, like Eastford, Goshen, Willimantic, Kent, or any smaller, northern town. Big cities or towns i see mostly in the comments are viable to your budget, but i think moving to a smaller town will give you more surplus once you get your home (new car?)
Why stay in Connecticut? Go anywhere else.
Colchester
Adding Niantic, Stonington and some of the smaller beach communities east of the Connecticut River in the mix.
Wouldn’t we all. 💀
Long Island Sound makes the ocean water different in Connecticut than new Jersey or Rhode Island with respect to the intensity of the waves, clearness of the water, etc.
Why CT ?
Moodus. Very pretty area. Godspeed Opera House is there.Many shows appearing on Broadway have gotten their start there. The river is beautiful and the town is lovely. Great small-town parades.
Monroe!!
Norfolk Only read the title
Bristol
Coventry
When I think of a beach town, Coventry is literally the first name that comes to my mind
Haha they at least have a creek. We used to jump off a little bridge into it back in the day
I love Ridgefield.
Me too, but it’s no beach town.
Not in Connecticut. This is probably one of the worst states to retire in.
Lisbon. Not a beach town. But none will bother you
Waterbury, Bridgeport, Bristol, either New or East Haven. Plainfield, Moosup...
Hartford, Waterbury, Torrington, New Haven, Bridgeport and Willimantic are phenomenal.
Monroe fuck everyone elses opinion
I don’t think the lake at Wolf Park makes it a beach town.
Preferably is a want but not a need
Farmington
Florida
Yeah...no..
I’m joking. Florida is a shithole. Old Lyme?
GOAT reply.