Where would you live? Westport, CT, Hingham, MA or Charlottesville, VA

[Anonymous]

for various reasons, we are looking at relocating to one of these towns. We have young kids. We have family up and down this part of the East Coast. I don't want to give too many personal details, but assuming all things equal.... which of these towns would you choose to live and raise your kids? We will be doing public school.... we would possibly do private school down the road if it was the right fit for one of our children, but we want to make sure we have good public school options. Here are some reasons we like these towns:

Westport, CT: strong public schools, nice little town with shops/restaurants, train to nyc (not for work purposes), beaches, drive to ski, people seem friendly,

Hingham, MA: strong public schools (except for a small area), shop/restaurants, can go to Boston, the cape, drive to ski, pretty homes.

Charlottesville, VA; decent public schools (only in certain areas), hiking, green rolling hills, money goes farther, climate seems good, can drive to DC or Richmond

[Anonymous]

In terms of COL, Charlottesville ftw. In terms of public school quality and proximity to urban centers, Westport and Hingham are pretty even. Since I would prefer the access to NYC, I would probably choose Westport, if money was not a significant concern. Hingham is lovely, but people are not the friendliest.

[Anonymous]

Westport is expensive.

[Anonymous]

Depends on how much money I'd be making. $750k and up, definitelyWestport. I love it there! If in the $200k range, then
Charlottesville.
Hingham would be a distant third for me. It's way too cold up there for me, and the cape is only warm 6-8 weeks a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends on how much money I'd be making. $750k and up, definitely Westport. I love it there! If in the $200k range, then
Charlottesville.
Hingham would be a distant third for me. It's way too cold up there for me, and the cape is only warm 6-8 weeks a year.

+1 on this great advice. Would also add that the choices would be dependent on the age of my kids.

I am from Massachusetts (near Hingham) and I would not wish that environment on my younger kids.

[Anonymous]

Hingham!

[Anonymous]

Charlottesville for milder winters.

[Anonymous]

I think the taxes and cost of living are going to be higher in CT and MA.

Charlottesville is pretty far from major cities, though, and most of VA is a pretty conservative state, although you are in a university town. MA and CT are pretty liberal.

Long term, VA and MA probably have more in state college options.

Charlottesville schools have a good reputation, don't know about the other towns. So that's my two cents.

Maybe consider the proximity of certain family members and how much you'd like to see them...

[Anonymous]

Unless you already have strong ties there Hingham could be tough to integrate into the community. More newcomers in your other two choices I suspect.

[Anonymous]

Come college, if you consider public schools, VA may have the best options.

[Anonymous]

Charlottesville for climate (four seasons, beautiful spring and fall) and beauty, culture of a major university town, COL, proximity to DC. It's a fantastic place.

Only drawback is that it's in Virginia, which is still in many ways a very southern, conservative state. But Charlottesville itself is diverse and progressive, and Virginia overall is changing (more quickly in some places than others).

[Anonymous]

Charlottesville is a problem. Far from Dulles or any major airport.

[Anonymous]

CT, then MA, then VA.

[Anonymous]

Had family in Hingham. It is crazy beautiful, like a movie set, and they made tons of very good friends in a short time. But they sought out a transfer after only a few years to a bigger, more diverse place. Not sure if that says more about them or about Hingham.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hingham!

+1 I'm actually posting from there. we moved up two years ago and love it. Schools are great, the town is beautiful (but expensive), almost everyone skis, which makes winter fun and not difficult. I love the history, taking to boat to Boston and spending our summers on the Cape.

I don't know about the other places you listed, but we are happy with our choice. And, fwiw, we didn't grow up in the town, but are finding other transplants and the locals are very nice.