There's no doubt the town of West Hartford benefits from Hartford, its namesake neighbor to the east. Residents can enjoy quick commute times — 19 minutes, on average — and easy access to performances by nationally touring entertainers.
But the northern Connecticut town of just over 64,000 people is more than just a quiet suburb. West Hartford's own attractions include a bustling downtown shopping district, restaurants and bars, hiking trails, and the majority of the 101-acre Elizabeth Park, known locally for its rose gardens.
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Another reason to move to town? It's relatively affordable. While family incomes here are high, the median sale price of a home in West Hartford was $295,000 in the first quarter of 2018 — just under the median for the spots Money analyzed. — Shaina Mishkin