[Eugene Tackleberry]

LoneGOPinCT, wondering if would do me the favor of bumping your CT Bump List?

[Peach]

West Hartford is very nice and only a short bus ride away from the school. Or try an apartment along Asylum or Farmington Avenue in Hartford. When I left CT 4 years ago that area was borderline rough but am not sure what it's like today. West Hartford is a quaint New England town, safe, lots of bookstores, coffee shops and singles, etc. Good luck.

[mlmr]

I am from West Hartford with generations of family roots there. West Hartford is ok but the farther from Hartford, the better. Pay more and find better roomates. You dont need to be that near Hartford, it is not a party town and it is crime ridden and nasy. That is why I live in Maine.

[Halcontent]

Try just outside Hartford to the North. Windsor, Ct.

[The Electrician]

A lot of suggestions here that are pretty much on target. The area in which the Law School is located is actually fairly upscale, with some beautiful mansions nearby. But urban decay and all of its problems are close by, with no natural barriers, and so, sadly, the neighborhood of the school is probably not what you want. As others have said, West Hartford is pretty nice (I'm biased, having grown up there), and West Hartford Center has shops and restaurants, and a bus line that will take you close to the school, but not shops and restaurants to the extent that you would find them in Beantown. It's more like Newton or Wellesley, Mass. than it is like the South End of Boston. Yes, there are small pockets of urban homesteaders in Hartford, but despite attempts, the gentrification has not taken hold the way that it has in Boston's South End. And, like others have said, if you can get a car, then Farmington, Simsbury, Avon, etc. are very nice...

[LoneGOPinCT]

Eugene, if you MUST be within walking distance stick with the far west end or West Hartford. There are some decent sized apartment buildings in the area but you won't find anything like in Manhattan or the South End of Boston. There are pockets of development here and there throughout the rest of the city which look appealing but the surrounding areas are still the same old Hartford so if you find a quaint restored townhouse, take a drive around the area to see what the fringes look like. I would suggest, unless absolutely necessary to stay right in the area, try Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Newington, or Windsor (basic suburbia) away from the Hartford line. It's relatively slim pickens inside the city line.

[Ol' Sox]

I've gone to school in Hartford and lived in Hartford and I have to stand with the others - commuting is your best bet. 25 years ago, I bought a property in the north end of the city, near Keany Park, beautiful 10 room colonial. Myself and a few other young folk were trying to "gentrify" the neighborhood. After one next-door-neighbor was shot in the throat at a church bingo game, and I was attacked by my other next-door-neighbor with a knife, I decided that the drama quotient of the investment was just a bit much. Sold that dog and haven't looked back. Best of luck to you, though!

[N. Theknow]

Couldn't help but notice that quite a few of your words are polysyllabic. This does not bode well for finding an (ahem) "inexpensive" domicile in the 1300 block of Main Street.

[PaulJ]

You might want to CHECK HERE.
The biggest problem with the area is the short distance that a neighborhood can change. In other words, there are rat-infested ghettos two miles from multi-million dollar mansions in the U-Conn area. And unless you're familiar with the area, you could be in trouble. For instance, a lot of the above suggestions recommend Farmington Ave. It's a fine street, but it's 30 some-odd miles long. And an apt. on Farmington Ave in West Htfd or the West End of Htfd is quite a bit different from one a mile north by Aetna.
I'll tell you what; do some scouting around and if you find a place that looks nice, freep mail me and I'll try to fill you in.

[MrNeutron1962]

I'd rent in Burlington, Canton, Or Colinsville and commute the 15 miles or so. Farmington and Simsbury are very nice, but very pricey. If you want a longer drive, consider the greater Torrington area. Hartford is a complete dump, avoid it like the plague. If you want night life, don't come to Connecticut.

[marktuoni]

*****IMPORTANT NOTE****

Being a like minded freeper, you will probably be joining the Federalist Society....DO NOT I repeat DO NOT include that information on any application for any apartment you may be interested in...You are now moving to a Communist State...subversive ideas and attitudes are NOT accepted!

Play nice with the comrades and your three years will pass by just fine!

[Marobe]

Whoa, the CT Freepers are out in Force ! Great feedback of course .... gonna add my two cents worth. E-T, folks are dealing you the straight poop on Hartford (N/g), and even parts of W-Hftd that abutt Hftd proper. And neighborhoods change quality faster than our taxes, and in CT thats fast ! Definity, keep a car handy or get on the bus line from Canton, Avon,Granby, or Torrington, Burville ...grab a map, find Rt44 follow it west ..the safest direction. Or look at Rt 91 NORTH ....not South ....once you get above Bloomfield on Rt91 there are more options for safe housing. I prefer the Rt44 option as you wouldn't have to cross thru Hftd each day to reach School in W-Hftd. Near-lastly, as someone suggested, when you get a few choices, let us Ct.Freepers rate them for you. Lastly, keep conservative opinions to yourself until you gage the company you are in ...too many leftists in Ct. hence the high crime areas in our cities, extreeme welfare, and outrageous unemployment. Wedged between Boston and Albany makes for "living on the edge" when you're a Conservative Ct.Yankee. Good luck

[Wm Bach]

Hartford has a couple of decent clubs and a Symphony of sorts. The rest is a huge garbage heap. The Jesse Jackson wannabees who run the local government and the no-gentrification-allowed natives (especially on the northside of the city) are to blame.

The rural towns have much more going for them. Stay West of the river and north of 84 (Avon, Canton, Windsor, Burlington, Collinsville) area if you wish to find happiness in this life. If you don't mind a 40 minute commute, you can rent a beautiful victorian all to yourself for less than a grand per month in the "stuck in the 50's" town of Winsted.

[TroutStalker]

It has been over three decades since I worked in Hartford, but even then I rented a cottage on the lake in Marlboro, about forty minutes east. It was pretty quiet then although I suspect it has since become built up.

[chudogg]

I came late, but i will join in on what everyone else has already said.

DO NOT LIVE IN HARTFORD!!!!

Definitly live in one of the suburbs. There isnt alot of traffic in the hartord area compared to other cities so commuting shouldn't be a problem.

I live in Rocky Hill about ten minutes south of hartford. The city is a dump. There are no restauraunts or cafes or shops or anything like that. Its basically all chop-shops, baby clothing stores, and bootleg shops. There are few decent nightclubs and bars during the afterhours, but nothing during the day.

Oh and whatever you do, avoid the North End at nighttime at all costs!! I ventured in their one time and a guy tried to sell me an ak47, no joke!

[chudogg]

Oh yeah, if you dont have a car, get one. Nothing is in walking distance in hartford. And the public transportion is a joke.

I might be going to UCONN next year as well, im still waiting for my acceptance, but if not im going to CCSU.