[Sylko]

Hi,

I've searched the forum but can't find a specific match for what I'd like to know. If there is a thread that covers this already, my apologies.

I'll be relocating from the UK to work in Stamford later this year.

Soon I'll be taking a trip over for fact finding. What I'd like to cover on that trip is where are the better areas to live, what the commute might be, where the good schools are etc.
My intention is to come away at the end of the trip with two or three potential towns to live.

To make my trip more focussed can anyone give me ideas on what towns might be within 1 hours commute of Stamford (car or train) and appealing to a family? I'd be looking either to rent or buy a three bedroomed place (or larger). My budget for buying would be upto $500K. Smaller towns appeal more to me than larger ones. I'm open to old or new property.
I have one daughter, 9 years old so good schools are very important.

Thanks for your help wth this.

[JayCT]

Sylko - hello and welcome. I am sure you will be very happy here in Copnnecticut. It is a beautiful state with a lot to offer most people. Stamford is a small to mid sized city with about a 120,000 people. It benefits from it close location to New York City and its location in beautiful and affluent Fairfield county. Because of its proximity to New York, Fairfield County is one of the most desireable and expensive places to live in the United States. Towns adjacent to Stamford (Greenwich, Darien, New Canaan) and towns near Stamford (Wilton, Weston, Westport, Fairfield, Redding, Ridgefield) are all considered expensive. They all have excellent schools, shopping, restaurants and parks and are wonderful places for families to live.

Over the last 30 years, a lot of major New York companies have moved into Stamford, the result being that traffic into Stamford in the morning and out of it in the evening is horrible. There is a commuter railroad service that runs along the Connecticut shoreline from New Haven (to the east of Stamford) to New York City to the southwest. Stamford is a major stop on the line as are towns like Greenwich (just west of Stamford), Darien (just east of Stamford), Westport and Fairfield. There are also spurs off of the New Haven line that serve New Canaan (the New Canaan line), Wilton, Redding and Ridgefield (all off the Danbury line). If your office will be located downtown, I would highly recommend that you consider one of these communities and use the train to get to work.

That said, 500k in this area does not buy a lot of home particularly as you get closer to Stamford. I would highly recommend that you consider Fairfield which is wonderful town about 20 minutes from Stamford. It has excellent schools, parks, beaches, shoppping and restaurants. I think you will find it to be a great place to live with a lot of good fun family activities and several great libraries. You will also be able to get a nice home on a decent sized lot in a good neighborhood (there really are no bad neighborhoods in Fairfield). I grew up there and still have a lot of family there as well as some business there. I highly recommend it. If you have any specific questions, please let me know. I would be happy to help. Jay

[NestorRomero]

Hi Sylko.
My name is Nestor Romero, a Real Estate Agent in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

[NY2CT]

I recommend looking in Fairfield. The school system is very good, and it seems like a very family friendly town. The housing prices are "reasonable" by Fairfield County standards. That being said, $500K won't get you very far. The houses in that price range tend to be fairly small and/or on a small piece of property.

Be aware that commuting to Stamford can be a nightmare especially if you're traveling on I-95. It can easily take an hour to travel from Fairfield to Stamford (15-20 miles away). It typically takes 30-45 minutes to travel from Norwalk to Stamford (less than 10 miles away). If you plan to drive, I wouldn't look much further than Fairfield.

[jjbradleynyc]

I live in Stamford--have lived here for just over 1 year. I purchased a home last year for $485,000. It is a "cape cod" style house on a dead end loop street with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. We have just over 1600 sq ft--not super big, not small. Our yard is 1/4 of an acre and we have trees and a river at the end of our property--VERY private. We are in an outstanding location right in Stamford city--2.2 miles from interstate 95 and the metro north train station, and 2.6 miles from the Merritt Parkway--which is a parkway leading to upstate CT and back to NYC.
We purchased this home (which needed a bit of work) cheaply. It is now appraised at about $525k. Prices have dropped in Stamford, for the most part. You can find a lovely 3 bdrm, 2 bath home in the city limits of Stamford for $500k. Don't believe the "hype" that it is too expensive to live here. Deals can still be found, and taxes are not that high in some areas. Stamford is super safe, very family-oriented, yet diverse, and Stamford has an excellent cultural scene for its size. Come see the city, you'll really like it I think.

[jumper]

There are a number of absolutely GREAT communities within easy commuting distance to Stamford, and neighborhoods within Stamford.
My area of Ridgefield is a tad pricey for you at the moment. I suggest a Stamford search first, then widen your search to include Fairfield. NY2CT makes a good point about the Fairfield/Stamford commute. It can be awful.
In my town you can buy a 3br condo in the center of town for around 385-405k. That's another idea. It's a great town, less than 35 minutes to downtown Stamford, with all the "feel" of a small town.

[Sylko]

Thanks so much for the quick responses.

Sounds like Fairfield would be a good starting point.

I've driven through Wilton in the past and that area (Wilton, Redding, Ridgefield) is very attractive, though I understand they can be pricey.

What are rental prices like at the moment?

[JViello]

Originally Posted by Sylko

Thanks so much for the quick responses.

Sounds like Fairfield would be a good starting point.

I've driven through Wilton in the past and that area (Wilton, Redding, Ridgefield) is very attractive, though I understand they can be pricey.

What are rental prices like at the moment?

Rental aparments abound in Stamford as it's a bedroom community for young professionals commuting to NYC and/or working in the many companies in downtown.

Best bet for current rates is to check rent.com or the like for up to date information. Last I checked (I almost took a job in NYC) Stamford rentals in one of the better complexes were about $1200-1500.00 per month for a larger one bedroom. BUT I would still check for current rates.

The one thing I will say about Fairfield to Stamford commute is you will have commuter train access to bypass congested Interstate 95. The trains can get crowded, BUT it's no different than the Underground in UK cities or other European cities. Certainly livable.

[jumper]

Rents for a 2br apt. in Ridgefield are in $1700 and up....

[davidlindland]

Was raised in Wilton and you might want to actually be south of Stamford, not north, simply due to the commute. The traffic southbound in the morning can be quite heavy, so check out Westchester county NY.

PM me if you need a hand.

Best,

David Lindland