As the sixth-largest city in New England (and the second-largest city in Connecticut), New Haven is a great place for buying a home. The city is growing quickly – from 2000 to 2010 it experienced a growth rate higher than did the state as a whole. It’s an excellent place for raising a family. Children in the area attend New Haven Public Schools, although there are a number of private school options for interested families. Most of the children that attend private schools in the area come from New Haven and its various suburbs, although some students come from out of town.
New Haven has an interesting history with tons of cultural significance for America. Its location along the harbor made it a very strategic place for the settlers of the area. New Haven has been around since 1640 and was one of the first cities to have a city plan from the beginning. Its original “9 Square” plan is recognized as being historically important.
The city is also home to Yale, one of the first universities in the country and a member of the Ivy League. In fact, many of Yale’s graduates have had a huge impact on the area, starting with Eli Whitney and his cotton gin. Yale is New Haven’s largest employer.
New Haven’s climate is typical of New England, featuring cold, snowy winters and fairly hot summers. The city’s weather is hospitable to trees, and once upon a time New Haven was nicknamed “Elm City.” Many of the elms died off when Dutch elm disease swept across North America in the middle of the 20th century, but New Haven – home of the nation’s oldest tree-planting program – continues to value its trees. The city has pledged to plant over 10,000 trees in the next 5 years.
The average home price in New Haven is $234,000, with the median home price hovering around $147,000, according to Trulia.com. Home prices are highest in the East Rock, Wooster Square and Prospect Hill neighborhoods. You may be able to find a bargain in West Rock or Newhallville. There are currently 159 foreclosures in the area, a fairly high rate for the state of Connecticut. This may make buying a home easier, since you can often save money when you buy a foreclosure.
New Haven is an excellent Connecticut city with good schools and fairly inexpensive homes. If you’ve been thinking about moving to Connecticut, visit New Haven – perhaps it’s just the city you’ve been looking for.
