Located in the middle of Connecticut, in the middle of dozens of lakes, in the middle of a handful of rivers and streams, and in the middle of suburban life, this city is the Malcolm In The Middle of Connecticut suburbs: unbelievably brilliant, yet underappreciated and overlooked. We're already dangerously close to limit for the word "middle" in this here apartment guide, so let's get right down to it.
Central: Main Street and Route 66 form the central triangle that encompasses Middletown's three most popular attractions: historic downtown, Wadsworth Falls State Park, and the prestigious Wesleyan University
Located in the middle of Connecticut, in the middle of dozens of lakes, in the middle of a handful of rivers and streams, and in the middle of suburban life, this city is the Malcolm In The Middle of Connecticut suburbs: unbelievably brilliant, yet underappreciated and overlooked. We're already dangerously close to limit for the word "middle" in this here apartment guide, so let's get right down to it.
Central: Main Street and Route 66 form the central triangle that encompasses Middletown's three most popular attractions: historic downtown, Wadsworth Falls State Park, and the prestigious Wesleyan University. The neighborhoods around downtown have a variety of rental types, and the number of places with great river views make it very tempting for both city slickers and nature lovers alike. There are new townhouses and condo rentals, high-rise apartments, renovated multi-family houses, historic homes converted into duplexes and fourplexes, as well as a few old fashioned single-family home rentals.
Wherever you end up renting, you will be surrounded by culture, education, breathtaking natural beauty, and historic architecture. The university brings neighbors together with community collaborations, such as open jam sessions, open mic nights for writers and poets, as well as other programs.
The Coginchaug River, which stretches over to the western edge of central Middletown, is just one of the natural formations that’ll gladly take your breath away, especially the Wadsworth Falls State Park. Seriously, try to remember how to breathe whenever you see the stunning Big Falls, the Little Falls, and the fresh water-swimming hole that are especially fun in the summer and simply beautiful when they freeze over in the winter.
Northwest: On the eastern border of this area, you have the Mattabesett River, which eventually flows into the Connecticut River. On the western border is a mountainous ridge traversed by hiking trails that weave around Lamentation Mountain, Silver Lake, Guiffrida Park, and the Hunter Memorial Golf Course. And, in between is a picture-perfect snapshot of small town, suburban living. Most of the winding, circling, cul-de-sac streets are all owner-occupied, making for great neighborhoods.
There is also a small neighborhood known as West Lake that is just for you. It is clustered living at its finest, with very nice apartments, green common areas, and access to some great bike trails running between shopping areas, rivers, and downtown. It is a very dynamic and peculiar lifestyle, where suburban views meet urban living, and where a fun-loving apartment dweller can reside among house dwellers.
Southeast: Do you enjoy the quiet intimacy of a secret swimming hole? How about the loud, yet infectious laughter of neighbors having an awesome day on the lake? Or, for the surrealist-thrill-seekers, how about mountain biking to the top of Indian Hill as the sun rises over the Connecticut River? Well, if any of these sounds like your cup of tea, then this is the area for you.
In the tree-covered southeast side of town, miles of hiking trails, creeks, ponds, lakes, and the Connecticut River make up the city's most expansive year-round playground. This area is also home to two hospitals and Middlesex Community College, making the commutes times fairly low. There are some affordable apartments here. However, you can also find some amazing duplexes renovated from historic homes that sit on large, open plots of land or fork over the big bucks for aluxurious Tudor rental home surrounded by woods and walking trails, and miles away from noisy urban areas.
Like many suburban cities, a good number of residents commute out of town for work, causing some painful interstate traffic. However, getting around town is usually a breeze. There is public transportation provided by Middletown Area Transit, New Britain Transportation, Connecticut Transit, and the Estuary Transit District.
A hiker/biker's delight, this city has miles of trails that run through town, along the rivers, up mountainous ridges, and through scenic parks. No matter where you live, there is most certainly a trail worth taking nearby. For more information, see the Middletown Trail Guide. For even more information, get out there and find the best-kept secrets by exploring the old fashioned way: hike it and bike it!
Middletown has a number of activities for younger residents:
• Oddfellows Playhouse: A well-known organization of children's theater and circus arts, which not only teaches and enlightens children, but also opens doors for a bright and creative future.
• Youth Gamelan: Gamelan is a type of music from Indonesia, which features a variety of eclectic instruments, such as xylophones, bamboo flutes, drums, gongs, and more. The youth ensemble is open with no experience necessary.
• Kidcity: An interactive playscape for kids 1 through 8, featuring underwater and outer space play areas.
Whether you want to be a city slicker in downtown, a hermit in the woods, or other type of neighborhood, Middletown has a rental home for you somewhere. You really can’t lose, so it’s time to get moving. Happy hunting!
