Are you thinking about living in Litchfield, Connecticut, and want to know what life is like here? In this episode of CT Life, I’m going to give you the pros and cons of living in Litchfield. We’ll look at the top three reasons people love living here so you can decide if this town is right for you.
A Picturesque Town
The very first and most popular reason people love living in Litchfield is that it’s one of the most gorgeous and picturesque New England towns in all of Connecticut. If you watch a Hallmark movie and it's filmed in Connecticut, more than likely it was filmed here in Litchfield. It's that type of town.
It also has two of the most popular nature centers: White Memorial Conservation Center and Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy. White Memorial has over 4,000 acres consisting of beautiful walking trails, biking, horseback trail riding, and fishing. There are also family campgrounds and a bird observation center.
Don’t forget to visit the Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy. Here you’ll find a collection of over 400 birds, some of which are rare and endangered.
Food, Drinks, And Frozen Treats
Now that we know what can keep you active and busy in Litchfield, the second reason people love living here is the amazing food and ice cream. Litchfield has many farm-to-table restaurants such as The Village, At The Corner, and Meraki just to name a few.
After a great meal, don’t forget to enjoy a tasty frozen treat at Arethusa Farm in Litchfield Hills. The ice cream is nothing like anything you've ever tasted before. It comes right from a cow here in Litchfield, making it extra fresh and creamy. Try a classic flavor like Sweet Cream Chocolate Chip or Strawberry, or snag a seasonal flavor like Pumpkin with Ginger Molasses Cookies in the fall.
For drinks, be sure to visit the Litchfield Distillery. They make some of the finest spirits handcrafted anywhere in New England.
Bantam Lake
The third reason people love living here in Litchfield, Connecticut, is the beautiful Bantam Lake. This is Connecticut's largest natural lake, covering 947 acres. It has beaches and land in both Morris, Connecticut and Litchfield, Connecticut.
At Bantam Lake, you can boat, jetski, and even kayak. It's a great swimming and fishing lake, well known for its trout, Pike, largemouth bass, and small mouth bass. Make sure you come back in the winter and try ice fishing. While you're out on the lake, you might even see a bald eagle soar by its huge nest; we spot it every time we come out.
Winter Weather
Now that you know some of the pros of living here in Litchfield, let's get the lowdown on some of the cons. Not everything is perfect, and if you're serious about moving here to Litchfield, Connecticut, you need to know these things.
Did you know Litchfield is one of the snowiest places in all of Connecticut? Litchfield has some of the highest annual snowfalls due in part to its high elevation. During the winter months, we average 58 inches of snow per year—while the US average is only 28 inches. If you can deal with the snow and don't mind the cold temperatures, then Litchfield could work for you.
If you hate cold weather and hate snow as much as I do, though, you're just going to have to get used to it. Maybe you could take up a winter sport like ice fishing. I tried it for the first time last year and it was awesome. You're also going to want to look into supplementing your heat during the winter with a nice wood or pellet stove.
The Secret’s Out
Another con of living here in beautiful and picturesque Litchfield is that the word is out about it. It’s busy, and there's constant traffic. Don't even ask about traffic come the fall season. The first time I came into Litchfield in the fall, it was bumper-to-bumper traffic for miles.
I asked a local friend what was going on and they said it was all the “leaf peepers.” Because of their high elevation, all the beautiful trees, and farmland, Litchfield explodes with colors come fall time. Everybody comes to the hills of Litchfield to see the foliage. Leaf peeping is real and it causes trouble for the traffic here in Litchfield.
Another con is that all the pros we mentioned come with a price—literally. The home prices here are higher than in all the neighboring towns. If you want to be a part of the awesomeness, it's going to cost you.
Make Litchfield Your Home
I hope this video gave you some insight into the pros and cons of living here in Litchfield. We help people everyday move in and out of Connecticut, and we would love to help you as well. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. A member of my team would love to start showing you properties in town as early as tomorrow.
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