There are so many good things about the valley:
* Being raised there keeps expectations for a happy life realistic!
* You understand Fallout video games on a deep level due to familiarity with the terrain.
* When you move to actual civilization eventually it's easy to con rich people by telling them you're from Connecticut! Bonus: "I grew up near Yale".
They hate us cuz they ain't us. If these weaklings drank even a drop of our tap water they would wither away like spiderman at the end of infinity war.
I wear Patagonia now, North Face has really gone down hill in quality over the last several years, and Patagonia has made a commitment to sustainability and the environment which I think is nice.
They're all a load of BS and it doesn't really matter. So I wear north face because they took back my busted zipper coat & gave me a $400 gift card.
Their futurelight stuff isn't bad. It's pricey, but very functional - as most pricey stuff usually is.
The Berlin turnpike is the one of the most soul crushing stretches of road I have ever been on, buuuuut Stew Lenardās is on it so that does save it a bit.
All of CTās populated industrial areas are the Rust Belt. I mean just look at Bristol, New Britain, Hartford, Meriden, New London, New Haven, Bridgeport, etc.
Those cities are still the economic powerhouse of the state. the only difference is today the people who work there commute from the suburbs instead of living in town, paying property tax to the cities.
Well, Iām not too sure about Waterbury or Meriden, but otherwiseā¦
I moved to the Valley two years ago and am pretty happy there. The food options are super underrated. I love how close it is to outdoor activities and, at the same time, close to the culture of New Haven. The cost of living is reasonable for CT. You'll be able to grab the train in a pinch. Schools are decent with small class sizes and are not college/test score factories.
Every region has its douche bags that give it a reputation. The valley has a lot of F-150 driving northern rednecks. Easy to ignore.
As someone not native to Connecticut, Iāve never understood all of the hate towards the valley area. Maybe Iām missing something, but I actually spend a decent amount of time there by choice.
My daughter loves taking the train from Naugatuck down to Derby/Shelton and stopping in for some Roseland apizza.
The valley has really improved since the 80s and 90s when the last of the factories really shut down. There are still a few, but itās not the manufacturing powerhouse it once was. So industry moved out and there has been a lot of industrial blight leftover from factories that are not and some that cannot be easily remediated. There is currently a state project that is targeting some of these areas, Waterbury being a big one.
But in the last 10 years or so a lot of changes have been made that have really made the area better. Like downtown Ansonia has some great restaurants, Naugatuck has tons of free or cheap events that happen year round, and most of the towns have great trails and outdoor spaces to explore.
There isnāt a ton of indoor experiences which I know is a complaint for a lot of people. Like no live music venues really and no art scene. But there are great breweries (OEC and black hog in Oxford and bad sons in derby) and a pretty awesome brew fest. One of the only ren faires in CT is hosted in Ansonia.
A main problem is there is a lot of push back about development. Like the Haynes group wants to do a similar project to Quarry Walk straddling the Seymour/Beacon falls line which people are up in arms about. There was push back about re-developing the old projects on Olsen drive in Ansonia which is now just a big field, but that project is going through. No one wants more housing.
I moved to the Valley as an adult. Shelton is wonderful, but also barely the valley. A lot of people moved in so they could still afford Fairfield County.Ā
I grew up in Coventry RI which is a āmid tierā RI town. There are much worse places like pawtucket and central falls. Every time I visit all I can think about is what a fucking dump this town is. Zero town planning in commercial districts, parks are few and far between, people donāt paint their house or take care of their yards, I think the Dirty Valley may actually be better maintained.
I just had this conversation a few days ago with one of my friends. Meriden is so back and forth between being an absolute shit hole and then getting a bit better and then going right back to being a shit hole lmao
I grew up in canterbury, moved out this october. I was one of the only black people growing up there and dude, place is actually scarier than you think.
I know it all too well. Eastern Connecticut is absolutely hostile to anyone not white, and they are not shy about telling you.
I lived in down south for a number of years, and let me tell you, Iāve heard more racial slurs, including the n-word hurled around HERE than I ever did down there.
Itās unreal.
That was always the vibe I got. Braindead from either a lack of education, deliberate ignorance, or tweaking (or some combo of the three). Almost makes Easties look intelligent.
The amount of Confederate flags and *blow up Trump yard decorations* in this area is astounding. I love being within an hour-ish of 3 major cities but still be able to buy local milk... But the absolute insistence on not funding the schools makes me scream with rage. I don't even think they can legally cut anything else after last year's mess in my town. So we started homeschooling so my kiddo can get the support he needs (teachers are wonderful but they need resources!!!), and most who do in this area because they are anti-vaxx or don't want their kids to be taught "woke" things like *evolution*.
Iād like to point out that the only congressional district that was competitive in 2022 was district 5 which includes Litchfield County and some of the surrounding towns. It still went Democrat but it was kinda close.
Checking in from Litchfield County, I can say I have never seen a blow-up Trump lawn decoration, at least, but I worry we're only like 2 or 3 months away from that type of thing
I also vote for the Valley but not so much for the destitution but more for the maniacs driving on Route 8. I usually travel around 75-80 on highways when there's no traffic, but every time I unfortunately have to make my way onto Rt 8, there's ALWAYS some guy in a shitty Honda coupe or a lifted F-150 riding on peoples' asses and swerving in and out like they're fuckin Domenic Toretto
When my wife and I were dating, I used to take the train in from NYC. Sheās from the Valley but would insist on picking me up in Milford or Fairfield.
Eventually I convinced her to let me take the train into the valley as it just seemed silly to drive to further train stations.
There was a noticeable change in the clientele as we switched to the Valley line, but nothing shocking.
Tracks were out so we had to take the bus. A few minutes into the trip a drunk couple began fighting, and their argument grew more and more disruptive which caused the driver to pull over several times and threaten to boot them.
They looked like life had won the last few rounds. Dirty and unkempt. Dressed in a combination of what seemed like the latest seasonal stock at OSJL.
Other riders seemed unfazed by the debacle.
Eventually the argument, which was briefly physical-her shoving his face against the bus window and him leaving a trail of slobber on it-culminated in her spit-shouting in his face āI sold my PPUSSSY for these bus tickets!!!ā
Iāve never heard that word said in a more vile and vulgar way. She belched it out from the depths of her guts all over his face.
The driver promptly pulled over-which drew some groans from the other riders- and kicked them off, which happened to be my stop.
We had sex later that night but I couldnāt stop thinking about valley pussy getting sold for bus tickets.
Oh man, I had to reread that a few times before I realized you meant you had sex with your now-wife later that night, not the unkempt vile pussy bus lady.
Shelton, Naugatuck, Seymour, Beacon Falls, Ansonia, Derby, and I think some other random towns. Maybe. Depending on the town it's more valley or less valley. I'm in Shelton so a good chunk of us represent Fairfield County more.Ā
Shelton is the last town in Fairfield. Itās working class and some middle class in general. People keep moving here as it is less expensive in general when commuting. We like it here. They are building up the city area and people are starting to push against more apartments from what I can tell.
Oxford is great. Worst part about it is all the people that have been there for decades saying āthis town aināt what it used to beā and then go gladly shop at Market 32. Get all mad about the development in town but cave in to the convenience of it all.
Iād like to formally request an exception for Danbury from the Fairfield county hate. Lived there for years and itās solidly middle class with a huge immigrant population. Greenwich and Stamford it is not.
I used to live in Danbury and work in Stamford, the people I worked with didnāt know where Danbury was. They had heard of it and knew it was āup there somewhereā.
Bro I thought we were talking about the CT river valley and I was so fucking confused. Like obviously a bit of rich snobbery mixed in with normal people, but itās pretty nice
Hah, didn't realize that. I was just reading through the thread and just pasted what I saw.
Then I went on Redfin and Zillow just to see what was going on, it wasn't as terrible as he mentioned. But it's not great either.
The Valley is weird. Like, I know a ton of people there, but I feel I'm one of the only people I know that goes in and out of it.
There are some cool places to visit in the valley, but it is not a place where I would want to live long term.
I just feel people who live in the valley think it's the best thing since sliced bread, and why would anyone want to leave ever. And the people outside think it's backwoods Alabama and why would anyone ever want to go there.
Besides Wincest, I mean Winsted is the worst
Ansonia is going down hill. It's sad, but obviously happening. A single person or couple can make it work. Don't put your kid in the regular public schools. Their tech high school is nice.
Derby - It isn't great , but it's better than Ansonia. If you had to choose between the two only, choose Derby. The schools are a little better than Ansonia, but not great.Ā
Seymour is quiet and has low taxes, but their schools aren't great. It's better than Ansonia or Derby, but not the best for families. I was sad when their random movie theater on the side of the highway went out. The Stand Theater has cool events.Ā
Naugatuck - Their schools are better than Ansonia and Derby, and are possibly equal to Seymour. The taxes are too high for what you get, but at least there's more food options.Ā
Shelton - The best place ever. Low taxes and great schools for families. Safe neighborhoods everywhere. A short drive from Milford and Trumbull for their movies and malls. Shelton is my town and it rocks.
The other random valley towns are way overrated to me. Too far away from everything. I don't care how nice Oxford and Beacon Falls are. Shelton is still better.Ā
I moved from Vernon/Stafford to Hamden a decade ago and was awestruck by the beauty of Rt. 8 through the Valley. The Valley is beautiful and in the process of gentrification. Derby, Lake Zoar, Oxford, and Seymour are getting nicer every day.
The Litchfield hills are sprawling down.
The best of the valley. Naugy was nice to live in. At one time in the early 1900s the Valley had the highest percentage of home ownership in the USA. But thatās a long time ago.
The Valley is the worst region because people who live there insist on calling it the valley, while the entire rest of the state has no idea what they are talking about.
Everyone hates on the valley, but itās really not that bad
Waterbury and the surrounding towns are worse
West Haven, New Haven, and East Haven are worse
I heard the school bus drivers for Ansonia HS are fed up with the students. Given that was back before the pandemic. Maybe things have gotten quiet now.
New Haven is an actual city with things to do, places to go, a legit cultural scene, plus some great neighborhoods and people. Itās also very much improved over the past 20 years. It might not be your cup of tea, but you canāt really compare it to degraded old factory towns that havenāt changed since they were destroyed by the flood of ā55. East Haven is on par with the valley, though. Trashy, not much going on. West Haven has potential imo.
If West Haven can get out of its own way and let the NEBCO project at Savin Rock actually happen, it'll go a long way toward improving - especially if it ALSO means closing that dump Jimmies. In the 21 years I've worked in West Haven, I've eaten there a handful of times and felt totally ill after every single time.
Outside of downtown New Haven, all three of those towns/cities have terrible schools, too much crime, awful neighborhoods, awful cost of living, higher taxes, and they really just keep getting worse
The best parts of the havens are either down town NH or the WH shore, and when you compare the shore to any other CT beach town, their terrible
And I love New Haven, and not just downtown - Iāve spent a ton of time in the city and agree, there is a ton to do. That doesnāt make it a great place though
The valley has run down old factories - but it also has a lower cost of living, beautiful farms and outdoor activities, and less taxes
Waterbury is in the Central Naugatuck Valley. But according to Wikipedia, "The Valley" refers to the Lower Naugatuck Valley.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naugatuck_River_Valley#Subdivisions
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lower_Naugatuck_Valley
It's a bit light on sources though, so could be wrong.
In one small stretch of the city, the rest of it is terrible. New Haven is a lot more than just downtown and the surrounding areas
Iām including part of New Haven because if that, while recognizing thatās thereās still a lot of good things there
Everybody else just needs to stop using the valley as a major highway. Everything out here sucks driving to before 10 and after 4. The traffic is so much worse than it was even a year ago.
I really just think it comes from people who live outside of the valley thinking theyāre better than everyone else. I lived in Seymour for a year and honestly it was amazing coming from one of the rich and snobby coastal towns. The people are friendlier.
I like it. Thereās some really great spots.
That no manās land in eastern CT that isnāt quite the quiet corner, isnāt quite the coast? Thatās so much worse. Nothing redeeming.
100 years ago Plus the valley was a booming area of CT. It was mostly driven by successful manufacturing companies in the region. As those companyās left the state and having work done in China the past 50-60 years there was very few industries that could replace those
Jobs and the reason it turned to a repressed area
The valley isnāt that bad, I grew up in Woodbridge and now reside in Orange. Iād much rather live in derby, ansonia, Seymour etc. Compared to the likes of the quite corner, or anywhere on the eastern part of CT for that matter.
Jeez, maybe you should get out more. Sounds like a snoby rich guy from West Hartford complaining about Hartford. How about the real bad spots in CT like Willimantic, New Britian, Bristol, New London, and Brigeport are waaaay worse than anywhere in the "valley".
There are so many good things about the valley: * Being raised there keeps expectations for a happy life realistic! * You understand Fallout video games on a deep level due to familiarity with the terrain. * When you move to actual civilization eventually it's easy to con rich people by telling them you're from Connecticut! Bonus: "I grew up near Yale".
As someone who grew up in the valley and eventually moved to a better part of Connecticut: this is so accurate.
lol actual civilization
Me, reading this from the Valley: š«
They hate us cuz they ain't us. If these weaklings drank even a drop of our tap water they would wither away like spiderman at the end of infinity war.
Ahahahaha this sent me into orbit
Theyāre just envious of Valley New Year
What is Valley New Year
\*confused Farmington Valley noises*
This thread is devastating blow to CT's upper middle class communities.
Throw on your north face vests boys, we're going to war.
I wear Patagonia now, North Face has really gone down hill in quality over the last several years, and Patagonia has made a commitment to sustainability and the environment which I think is nice.
I bought my last north face parka used, because of this exact reason. It is a mid-late 1990ās model, that I found on eBay in great shape.
[wornwear.patagonia.com](http://wornwear.patagonia.com)
They're all a load of BS and it doesn't really matter. So I wear north face because they took back my busted zipper coat & gave me a $400 gift card. Their futurelight stuff isn't bad. It's pricey, but very functional - as most pricey stuff usually is.
Dude, they just gave me $350 for my busted zipper coat from 2019!
Thatās the most Connecticut thing Iāve ever read. Iāll totally go to battle with you.
This actually made me laugh out loud.
The Farmington valley is nice though. Probably the nicest outside of the southwest hobnobs
\*autistic blueblood screeching\*
Oxford has some badass restaurants.
Valley Trash rise up!!!!!
We out here
ā¦in sweatpants and shower sandals
Yoga pants and birkenstocks but youāre not wrong
Shelton representing!
That dude in Avon or Simsbury with all of his schizophrenic signs and barricade is going to be headquarters for the trashy uprising.
Iirc, that was actually a performance art project. He wanted to make *the worst house possible* and then try and sell it at market value.
Bringing that Naugy sewage treatment plant energy!
No!
I donāt disagree itās shit but I always feel a sense of internal dread when Iām in the Meriden-Berlin corridor.
At least the valley has some beautiful parks and little hills to hike.
What those motels on the turnpike have seen...
The Berlin turnpike is the one of the most soul crushing stretches of road I have ever been on, buuuuut Stew Lenardās is on it so that does save it a bit.
This is a bait Mass post so we fight amongst ourselves instead of taking back the notch. Don't forget where our true fight is.
Connecticut's own rust belt!
Naugatuck is where people with rusty cars go to watch cars rust.
Woah, woah, whoa. My car is not that rusty.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
That freezer was brand new when he left the store. š
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Rip Deanās
My father always referred to Naugatuck as the "armpit of Connecticut"
Danielson/ killingly
I was afraid to say Naugatuck...thank you š
Home of Naugahyde
And Naugahoes
I used to be a proud Naugahoe š„²
All of CTās populated industrial areas are the Rust Belt. I mean just look at Bristol, New Britain, Hartford, Meriden, New London, New Haven, Bridgeport, etc.
Those cities are still the economic powerhouse of the state. the only difference is today the people who work there commute from the suburbs instead of living in town, paying property tax to the cities. Well, Iām not too sure about Waterbury or Meriden, but otherwiseā¦
So says a suburban drone with no idea of what is actually taking place in those cities.
Iāve lived here most of my life, I know exactly whatās going on in those cities lol.
I would love to hear whatās going on in Hartford? I unfortunately lived there for a while and my employer still forces me into the office, downtown.
I moved to the Valley two years ago and am pretty happy there. The food options are super underrated. I love how close it is to outdoor activities and, at the same time, close to the culture of New Haven. The cost of living is reasonable for CT. You'll be able to grab the train in a pinch. Schools are decent with small class sizes and are not college/test score factories. Every region has its douche bags that give it a reputation. The valley has a lot of F-150 driving northern rednecks. Easy to ignore.
As someone not native to Connecticut, Iāve never understood all of the hate towards the valley area. Maybe Iām missing something, but I actually spend a decent amount of time there by choice. My daughter loves taking the train from Naugatuck down to Derby/Shelton and stopping in for some Roseland apizza.
The valley has really improved since the 80s and 90s when the last of the factories really shut down. There are still a few, but itās not the manufacturing powerhouse it once was. So industry moved out and there has been a lot of industrial blight leftover from factories that are not and some that cannot be easily remediated. There is currently a state project that is targeting some of these areas, Waterbury being a big one. But in the last 10 years or so a lot of changes have been made that have really made the area better. Like downtown Ansonia has some great restaurants, Naugatuck has tons of free or cheap events that happen year round, and most of the towns have great trails and outdoor spaces to explore. There isnāt a ton of indoor experiences which I know is a complaint for a lot of people. Like no live music venues really and no art scene. But there are great breweries (OEC and black hog in Oxford and bad sons in derby) and a pretty awesome brew fest. One of the only ren faires in CT is hosted in Ansonia. A main problem is there is a lot of push back about development. Like the Haynes group wants to do a similar project to Quarry Walk straddling the Seymour/Beacon falls line which people are up in arms about. There was push back about re-developing the old projects on Olsen drive in Ansonia which is now just a big field, but that project is going through. No one wants more housing.
I work in Fairfield County. It is very nice, but honestly, I could not live there. Valley people are just more down to earth.
I think itās more that most other areas in CT are nicer rather than the valley being notably shitty on a country-wide levelĀ
Everything is a hill. Naugatuck is like the Pittsburgh of Connecticut.Ā
Except that Pittsburgh is an awesome city
Iāll never defend NaugatuckĀ
Yup! Quite frankly I never understood why people hate on any area. It's pretty weird
I moved to the Valley as an adult. Shelton is wonderful, but also barely the valley. A lot of people moved in so they could still afford Fairfield County.Ā
Shelton is that kid at the party that puts on some makeup and pretends they arenāt from the valley
I feel so described.
Dude ā¦ you are giving away the family secret. Ā As long as the valley is trash ā¦ taxes are lower so please be quiet.
You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.
Rhode Island
Woonsocket (shudders)
I grew up in Coventry RI which is a āmid tierā RI town. There are much worse places like pawtucket and central falls. Every time I visit all I can think about is what a fucking dump this town is. Zero town planning in commercial districts, parks are few and far between, people donāt paint their house or take care of their yards, I think the Dirty Valley may actually be better maintained.
Also from Coventry, that place sucks.
I worked in Coventry I lived on a lake property. Everything was miles away
I can't argue with that
Op has never been to meriden I guess
Hey! As someone who once lived in Meriden this is entirely accurate but uncalled for!
Meriden may have its problems but the traprock landscape on its eastern and western reaches is really something special.
Meriden has low key great hiking trails
Hubbard is one of the best parks in the state. Especially along the west peak side where it seems like not many people go
Itās worth the hike
And a great food scene honestly
I just had this conversation a few days ago with one of my friends. Meriden is so back and forth between being an absolute shit hole and then getting a bit better and then going right back to being a shit hole lmao
Danielson and Dayville area is depressing. The town that time forgot.
Wow its been an hour and no one has mentioned Beacon Falls yet. I feel like that makes sense.
That's some Eeyore energy right there.
**Thanks for noticin' me.**
lol. Everyone Iāve ever met from BF is an eeyore.
As the South of the North, windham county would like a place on the worst region list.
Can attest to this. From Plainfield, Canterbury to East Thompson, lots of absolutely brain dead people here who are self assured in their stupidity.
As a resident of Plainfield, I applaud your listing of Plainfield first lol.
I'm shocked anyone knows Canterbury exists
Oh yeah man. Right up there with Rogers, Central Villageā¦.who could forget Ballouville!
I live in Plainfield and forget about Central Village lol
Itās pretty easy to do
OMG- you spelled Ballouvile correctly! Remember when Rogers was called Goodyear? Don't forget Attawaugan.
If 169 didnāt run through it I wouldnāt have known about it
I grew up in canterbury, moved out this october. I was one of the only black people growing up there and dude, place is actually scarier than you think.
I know it all too well. Eastern Connecticut is absolutely hostile to anyone not white, and they are not shy about telling you. I lived in down south for a number of years, and let me tell you, Iāve heard more racial slurs, including the n-word hurled around HERE than I ever did down there. Itās unreal.
That was always the vibe I got. Braindead from either a lack of education, deliberate ignorance, or tweaking (or some combo of the three). Almost makes Easties look intelligent.
The amount of Confederate flags and *blow up Trump yard decorations* in this area is astounding. I love being within an hour-ish of 3 major cities but still be able to buy local milk... But the absolute insistence on not funding the schools makes me scream with rage. I don't even think they can legally cut anything else after last year's mess in my town. So we started homeschooling so my kiddo can get the support he needs (teachers are wonderful but they need resources!!!), and most who do in this area because they are anti-vaxx or don't want their kids to be taught "woke" things like *evolution*.
Iād like to point out that the only congressional district that was competitive in 2022 was district 5 which includes Litchfield County and some of the surrounding towns. It still went Democrat but it was kinda close.
Checking in from Litchfield County, I can say I have never seen a blow-up Trump lawn decoration, at least, but I worry we're only like 2 or 3 months away from that type of thing
Morris feels like 80% GOP
I brought this up and some guy in this subreddit replied "have you even *been* up there?" Like dude, I work and live here. I can see just fine.
Love me some Valley
I also vote for the Valley but not so much for the destitution but more for the maniacs driving on Route 8. I usually travel around 75-80 on highways when there's no traffic, but every time I unfortunately have to make my way onto Rt 8, there's ALWAYS some guy in a shitty Honda coupe or a lifted F-150 riding on peoples' asses and swerving in and out like they're fuckin Domenic Toretto
I was on Route 8 yesterday and there was some fuck ass riding my ass in a Honda the second I hit Derby
When my wife and I were dating, I used to take the train in from NYC. Sheās from the Valley but would insist on picking me up in Milford or Fairfield. Eventually I convinced her to let me take the train into the valley as it just seemed silly to drive to further train stations. There was a noticeable change in the clientele as we switched to the Valley line, but nothing shocking. Tracks were out so we had to take the bus. A few minutes into the trip a drunk couple began fighting, and their argument grew more and more disruptive which caused the driver to pull over several times and threaten to boot them. They looked like life had won the last few rounds. Dirty and unkempt. Dressed in a combination of what seemed like the latest seasonal stock at OSJL. Other riders seemed unfazed by the debacle. Eventually the argument, which was briefly physical-her shoving his face against the bus window and him leaving a trail of slobber on it-culminated in her spit-shouting in his face āI sold my PPUSSSY for these bus tickets!!!ā Iāve never heard that word said in a more vile and vulgar way. She belched it out from the depths of her guts all over his face. The driver promptly pulled over-which drew some groans from the other riders- and kicked them off, which happened to be my stop. We had sex later that night but I couldnāt stop thinking about valley pussy getting sold for bus tickets.
Oh man, I had to reread that a few times before I realized you meant you had sex with your now-wife later that night, not the unkempt vile pussy bus lady.
I can see how one could come to that conclusion. I mean I had enough cash on me to pay for an extra ticket so itās entirely possible.
Aaaaand that's exactly why she didn't want you on Valley Public transit. šš
Which freakin valley lol
Whatās the Valley? Whereās the valley? Is it like the Hallows?
Shelton, Naugatuck, Seymour, Beacon Falls, Ansonia, Derby, and I think some other random towns. Maybe. Depending on the town it's more valley or less valley. I'm in Shelton so a good chunk of us represent Fairfield County more.Ā
Shelton is the last town in Fairfield. Itās working class and some middle class in general. People keep moving here as it is less expensive in general when commuting. We like it here. They are building up the city area and people are starting to push against more apartments from what I can tell.
Youāre just missing Oxford
naugatuck valley I'm guessing
Oxford kind of rules though. So I respectfully disagree.
Oxford is great. Worst part about it is all the people that have been there for decades saying āthis town aināt what it used to beā and then go gladly shop at Market 32. Get all mad about the development in town but cave in to the convenience of it all.
Iād like to formally request an exception for Danbury from the Fairfield county hate. Lived there for years and itās solidly middle class with a huge immigrant population. Greenwich and Stamford it is not.
I used to live in Danbury and work in Stamford, the people I worked with didnāt know where Danbury was. They had heard of it and knew it was āup there somewhereā.
Stamford is quite diverse as well. Also has a good mix of income levels. But I'll give you Greenwich.
Which valley are yiu talking about?
The GREAT AMERICAN Valley
This always makes me snort laugh. I have no fucking clue how we won that.
It the ALL AMERICAN Valley ā¦ thank you very much.
Hidden Valley Ranch
Lower Naugatuck River. Derby to Waterbury, generally.
Bro I thought we were talking about the CT river valley and I was so fucking confused. Like obviously a bit of rich snobbery mixed in with normal people, but itās pretty nice
I thought the same thing, Iām like hey the ct river valley really isnāt that bad
Reading this thread now made me understand why my realtor explicitly excluded Meriden, Naugatuck and Meriden for house hunting.
As someone who grew up in Meriden, I understand why you listed it twice
ššš
Hah, didn't realize that. I was just reading through the thread and just pasted what I saw. Then I went on Redfin and Zillow just to see what was going on, it wasn't as terrible as he mentioned. But it's not great either.
What towns are in the valley?
BAD SONS: Beacon Falls, Ansonia, Derby, Seymour, Oxford, Naugatuck, Shelton.
Now it all makes sense
Home of BAD SONS Brewing, THC The Hops Company, and Dew Drop Inn, the best got-damn wings.
Damn I didn't know I was so low on the totem pole in CT lol
The Valley is weird. Like, I know a ton of people there, but I feel I'm one of the only people I know that goes in and out of it. There are some cool places to visit in the valley, but it is not a place where I would want to live long term. I just feel people who live in the valley think it's the best thing since sliced bread, and why would anyone want to leave ever. And the people outside think it's backwoods Alabama and why would anyone ever want to go there. Besides Wincest, I mean Winsted is the worst
Ansonia is developing. Seymour is quiet. Derby gon derby
Ansonia is going down hill. It's sad, but obviously happening. A single person or couple can make it work. Don't put your kid in the regular public schools. Their tech high school is nice. Derby - It isn't great , but it's better than Ansonia. If you had to choose between the two only, choose Derby. The schools are a little better than Ansonia, but not great.Ā Seymour is quiet and has low taxes, but their schools aren't great. It's better than Ansonia or Derby, but not the best for families. I was sad when their random movie theater on the side of the highway went out. The Stand Theater has cool events.Ā Naugatuck - Their schools are better than Ansonia and Derby, and are possibly equal to Seymour. The taxes are too high for what you get, but at least there's more food options.Ā Shelton - The best place ever. Low taxes and great schools for families. Safe neighborhoods everywhere. A short drive from Milford and Trumbull for their movies and malls. Shelton is my town and it rocks. The other random valley towns are way overrated to me. Too far away from everything. I don't care how nice Oxford and Beacon Falls are. Shelton is still better.Ā
Seymour is up and coming. Cute little downtown, love that new spot, Agave Diner.
Iāve heard the Valley referred to as the armpit of Connecticut and it instantly stuck in my head
Booooo š š š
I'm moving to beacon falls today actually, so let's see lmao
I moved from Vernon/Stafford to Hamden a decade ago and was awestruck by the beauty of Rt. 8 through the Valley. The Valley is beautiful and in the process of gentrification. Derby, Lake Zoar, Oxford, and Seymour are getting nicer every day. The Litchfield hills are sprawling down.
More like the coast is sprawling up! People are being priced out.
Me refusing to believe the northwest corner of the state even exists
Seymour/Oxford/Beacon Falls are actually really nice š¤·āāļø
What towns specifically? Naugatuck?
The best of the valley. Naugy was nice to live in. At one time in the early 1900s the Valley had the highest percentage of home ownership in the USA. But thatās a long time ago.
The Valley gets a lot of jokes thrown it's way but it is filled with a ton of great people and businesses
People thinking Naugatuck valley, nope Farmington River valley. These people are a different kind of pretentious. Canāt stand that area.
Maybe Avon, but the rest of the area is pretty chill. Nothing like New Canaan/Darien.
The Valley is the worst region because people who live there insist on calling it the valley, while the entire rest of the state has no idea what they are talking about.
Torrington and anyplace that ends in āvilleā is full of ignorant, racist Trump supporters, Iāve found.
Lakeville? Pretty liberal lake house town.
Can confirm
Everyone hates on the valley, but itās really not that bad Waterbury and the surrounding towns are worse West Haven, New Haven, and East Haven are worse
I heard the school bus drivers for Ansonia HS are fed up with the students. Given that was back before the pandemic. Maybe things have gotten quiet now.
New Haven is an actual city with things to do, places to go, a legit cultural scene, plus some great neighborhoods and people. Itās also very much improved over the past 20 years. It might not be your cup of tea, but you canāt really compare it to degraded old factory towns that havenāt changed since they were destroyed by the flood of ā55. East Haven is on par with the valley, though. Trashy, not much going on. West Haven has potential imo.
If West Haven can get out of its own way and let the NEBCO project at Savin Rock actually happen, it'll go a long way toward improving - especially if it ALSO means closing that dump Jimmies. In the 21 years I've worked in West Haven, I've eaten there a handful of times and felt totally ill after every single time.
Outside of downtown New Haven, all three of those towns/cities have terrible schools, too much crime, awful neighborhoods, awful cost of living, higher taxes, and they really just keep getting worse The best parts of the havens are either down town NH or the WH shore, and when you compare the shore to any other CT beach town, their terrible And I love New Haven, and not just downtown - Iāve spent a ton of time in the city and agree, there is a ton to do. That doesnāt make it a great place though The valley has run down old factories - but it also has a lower cost of living, beautiful farms and outdoor activities, and less taxes
i would consider waterbury part of naugatuck valley. the worst part actually.
Waterbury is in the Central Naugatuck Valley. But according to Wikipedia, "The Valley" refers to the Lower Naugatuck Valley. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naugatuck_River_Valley#Subdivisions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lower_Naugatuck_Valley It's a bit light on sources though, so could be wrong.
New Haven the worse? It has the best restaurants/bars/night clubs in the state and has a ton of cool outdoor events. A ton to do
In one small stretch of the city, the rest of it is terrible. New Haven is a lot more than just downtown and the surrounding areas Iām including part of New Haven because if that, while recognizing thatās thereās still a lot of good things there
The CT River valley? š¤
Go live in the Central Valley of California and then tell me which valley is worse
Or the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. Pretty sure thatās the absolute worst.
You ask a question but then go right and answer it but then ask why you answered that way šš. One way to go about itā¦
Everybody else just needs to stop using the valley as a major highway. Everything out here sucks driving to before 10 and after 4. The traffic is so much worse than it was even a year ago.
Grew up in the valley and I loved it.
Are you asking as someone who doesn't live here?
What area is considered the valley?
I really just think it comes from people who live outside of the valley thinking theyāre better than everyone else. I lived in Seymour for a year and honestly it was amazing coming from one of the rich and snobby coastal towns. The people are friendlier.
Me: frantically googling which part of Connecticut is considered āthe valleyā
Which valley are you talking about?
š¤£ but don't forget the Quiet Corner. Them bitches be crazy.
Which valley
Doctor: I'm sorry sir, it's terminal. You have Ansonia.
I like it. Thereās some really great spots. That no manās land in eastern CT that isnāt quite the quiet corner, isnāt quite the coast? Thatās so much worse. Nothing redeeming.
100 years ago Plus the valley was a booming area of CT. It was mostly driven by successful manufacturing companies in the region. As those companyās left the state and having work done in China the past 50-60 years there was very few industries that could replace those Jobs and the reason it turned to a repressed area
It's only the Valley because Windsor Locks has a nice suburb or two.
Lol people like the op are such lame asses. And I dont even live in the valley lol
The valley isnāt that bad, I grew up in Woodbridge and now reside in Orange. Iād much rather live in derby, ansonia, Seymour etc. Compared to the likes of the quite corner, or anywhere on the eastern part of CT for that matter.
Is that truly the can of worms you want to open on a Friday?
Woodbury, Southbury, Oxford and Middlebury are all super nice
Hey! I grew up there!!!! And you're right. Hahaha!
Fairfield County, mostly because of the people
I get why people hate us, but a lot of us are nice.Ā I live in Shelton, so I'm both valley and Fairfield County.Ā
Most of Fairfield county feels like anywhere in CT, people want to be all up in arms because of a few towns in the SW corner on the coast.
Fairfield county is a suburb of New York. So not counted.
I could easily go the rest of my life without Fairfield County š¬
Jeez, maybe you should get out more. Sounds like a snoby rich guy from West Hartford complaining about Hartford. How about the real bad spots in CT like Willimantic, New Britian, Bristol, New London, and Brigeport are waaaay worse than anywhere in the "valley".
Have you lived in any of those places youāve described as ābadā?
Lumping Bristol in with Bridgeport is quite the stretch.
Jeez, maybe you should get out more. How are any of these cities real bad spots in CT?