Are you thinking of moving to Litchfield County? There are lots of great reasons to make Litchfield County your new home! Litchfield County residents enjoy the friendly community, low crime rate, strong school system, and solid employment rate. You’ll also appreciate the proximity to both peaceful countryside and world-class cities.
But there are a few things you’ll need to know before making the move. Here is everything you need to know before moving to Litchfield County.
1. The sooner you embrace the cold weather, the faster spring will come.
If you love the cold and snow (or sleet or freezing rain!), you’ll love winters in Litchfield County. But if, like me, you prefer the warm weather, you’ll need to find a few winter activities to get you through the season. Try skiing at Ski Sundown in nearby New Hartford or Mohawk Mountain in Cornwall, ice skating at any of the local rinks, or just sledding down some local hills. When you embrace these fun winter activities, you’ll enjoy the season much more. And spring will arrive before you know it!
2. Our housing market can accommodate pretty much any budget.
Connecticut as a whole has a bit of a reputation for being expensive. And this can be true, especially for homes closer to NYC or the shore. But moving to Litchfield County is within reach, no matter your budget! You can find fixer-uppers for under $80,000 or spend a few million for a luxury estate. If you’re having trouble finding a home in your price range, contact me. With my industry connections, I often hear about off-market properties you may not find in online searches.
3. You may end up doing a fair bit of driving.
With NYC and Boston both just a two-hour drive from Litchfield County, it feels like the whole world is within reach; it just takes a little driving to get there. But it’s not only about the cities. The Berkshires in MA (with the popular Tanglewood venue for summer concerts) is only an hour’s drive. Or you could be in Kent Falls State Park in just 30 minutes. You may end up doing a fair bit of driving in Connecticut, but the drives are lovely!
4. It’s either NY or Boston for sports
Speaking of driving, if you’re a sports fan, get used to traveling to NY or Boston for sporting events, because that’s where you’re going to find the nearest professional sports. But most of us don’t mind the two-hour drive because New England is home to some truly legendary teams like the RedSox, Yankees, Giants, Patriots, Celtics, and Knicks (just to name a few!). In Litchfield County, you’re close enough to catch a game in person, but not so close that you have to deal with the city-wide disruption of a home game.
5. We take our women’s basketball seriously.
One sport that’s all ours: women’s collegiate basketball. UCONN has dominated the sport for decades! They are the most successful women’s basketball program in the US, winning a record number of NCAA Division I National Championships and holding the record for the longest winning streak in college basketball history. Make sure you get tickets early, and get ready to get in the game!
6. All-wheel-drive vehicles are a solid investment.
Between the rolling landscape and the dynamic winter weather of Connecticut, you may want to invest in an AWD vehicle upon moving to Litchfield County. They handle substantially better than just front or rear-wheel drive vehicles and make your life a whole lot easier during those blustery winter months.
7. You’ll have a front-row seat to the fall foliage.
The foliage is an awe-inspiring spectacle, attracting travelers from all over the country to New England every fall. And Northwest Connecticut offers some of the most beautiful routes for a fall drive. Unlike those travelers who have to book their hotels months in advance in the hope of a few days of good foliage-viewing, you’ll have season-long access to this impressive show of nature every year.
8. Locals take advantage of farmer’s markets.
Is there anything better than farm-fresh produce? Farmer’s markets are plentiful in Litchfield County during summer and fall. Many locals participate in the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Program to enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables every week of the season. You pay a flat rate to purchase a share (or even just half a share), which entitles you to a portion of the crops as they’re harvested. You’ll have fresh produce and dairy each week of the season, ready and waiting for you at the market.
9. Connecticut has a surprisingly lively wine and brewpub scene.
Wine isn’t just for Californians! If you’re a wine enthusiast, you’ll find an impressive selection of wineries in and around Litchfield County. Spend a leisurely afternoon wine-tasting. Or even take a picnic lunch for a lovely Sunday out! Most wineries will allow you to bring your own food as long as you purchase some of their wine to go with it. Haight-Brown Vineyards offers events, wine classes, and vineyard tours year-round! You’ll also want to visit Hawk Ridge Winery, Sunset Meadows Vineyards, Hopkins Vineyard, Connecticut Valley Winery, and Jerram Winery.
And if you’re more into breweries, don’t worry, you’ll find lots of brewpubs in Litchfield County as well. Kent Falls Brewery Company, Brewery-Legitimus, and Norbrook Farm Brewery are among the best in the area!
10. Summer dinner isn’t complete without corn on the cob.
When people think of corn, they typically think of Illinois and Iowa. But I’m telling you, Connecticut has some of the best corn you’ve ever tasted! The corn season is short, lasting from x to x, so Litchfield County residents eat as much corn as possible during this time. That’s why corn is a staple at summer dinners all over the county.
When you’re ready to plan your move to Litchfield County, contact me! I’m happy to take you on a personalized tour of the area and answer all your questions about moving to Litchfield County!
