If you want to stay close to new haven, there are a few apartment / condo complexes in Hamden that all look really good. Anything along Whitney Ave will be a great neighborhood and Whitney is a straight drive into the heart of new haven.

My wife and I had a similar issue but not only with the woman upstairs stomping, but also a woman with dementia next to use screaming at night to get her husband's attention from another room.... Who died a decade prior. We moved to an apartment that was top floor and had a much better time. We've since bought a house, but while we had it top floor was definitely the way to go.

Ya I think they don't put any preservatives in it. They are definitely a "that day" Bakery. Frozen and then toasted still works great for extra!

Bread & Chocolate make easily the best baguette in the area. They are in Hamden, but they destribute bread in quite a few markets nearby.

I have a theory that these giant stores all start out as a Target, but when enough weirdos show up they are contractually obligated to change the name to Walmart.

(kidding)

Like every town, there is always a bad spot. Where OP is talking about seems pretty fine, busy but fine.

There is a bus that goes into new haven from Hamden via Whitney ave. Hamden is incredibly safe along Whitney. Less so along Dixwell ave. If you can find an apartment in hamden within walking distance to Whitney ave I'd say it's a slam dunk. My mother walked this route for 30 years to her library position at yale.