[Jessiesb]

Hi all!

My husband got a job in Greenwich CT and we're trying to decide which area to move to. We are coming from Manhattan and planning on having a baby soon. We're looking for a place that has young families, great schools, great restaurants and shopping, and we can afford $1M house. We're considering Fairfield near the beach but have heard college students can cause many noise issues and the garbage dump scares me (anyone ever heard of people developing cancer from being so close???; does it smell??). Does Fairfield have year round residents, or mostly seasonal and college? We have noticed so much new construction so not sure how the neighborhood is changing. Also looking in to Westport but not sure on young families and commerce/restaurants. Any suggestions and comments are MUCH appreciated. We're excited to settle in and start our family soon thanks!!!

[Stylo]

I wouldn't wish that commute upon my worst enemy, unless his work is by a train station?

Otherwise he's going to deal with 25 miles of pure traffic hell.

[Mike 75]

Honestly, you should also be looking at the towns to the north - New Canaan, Wilton and Ridgefield. For the reason Stylo pointed out - the traffic on 95 is awful. These towns give you options to commute that are not reliant solely on 95 or the Merritt. Your budget will go a long way in Wilton and Ridgefield, less so in New Canaan. All have excellent schools and are family oriented. While all three have downtown shopping areas, Ridgefield and New Canaan have two of the nicest downtowns in the state IMO. It's hard to go wrong with any of them.

[Jeff from CT]

Originally Posted by Jessiesb

Hi all!

My husband got a job in Greenwich CT and we're trying to decide which area to move to. We are coming from Manhattan and planning on having a baby soon. We're looking for a place that has young families, great schools, great restaurants and shopping, and we can afford $1M house. We're considering Fairfield near the beach but have heard college students can cause many noise issues and the garbage dump scares me (anyone ever heard of people developing cancer from being so close???; does it smell??). Does Fairfield have year round residents, or mostly seasonal and college? We have noticed so much new construction so not sure how the neighborhood is changing. Also looking in to Westport but not sure on young families and commerce/restaurants. Any suggestions and comments are MUCH appreciated. We're excited to settle in and start our family soon thanks!!!

Given your budget, I think you can afford a town that's closer to Greenwich than Fairfield. As others have stated, a commute from Fairfield to Greenwich would be brutal on I-95 or the Merritt. If your husband works within walking distance of one of the train stations in Greenwich, Metro North could be an option, but his choice of trains would be somewhat limited, since a number of the rush-hour trains that service Fairfield run express to Manhattan past Stamford.

I suggest looking at Darien, New Canaan, Wilton, and the southern part of Ridgefield. Darien and New Canaan are closest -- just on the other side of Stamford from Greenwich. Wilton and Ridgefield are further away -- located along Route 7 north of Norwalk. You'll get more house for your budget in Wilton and Ridgefield, but your husband will be facing a longer commute. All of these towns have family-friendly neighborhoods, highly-regarded school systems, and access to shopping and dining.

Also, keep an eye out for properties that might suit your needs in Greenwich itself.

Good Luck.

[JayCT]

I have to agree with the others. A commute from Fairfield to Greenwich means commuting through Stamford and that can be brutal. $1 million can buy you a modest home in Greenwich and would cut way down on your husband's commute making everyone's life easier.

That said, Fairfield is a great town and $1 million will go further there than towns like Greenwich, Darien, New Canaan and Westport. The Fairfield Beach area is great. It is NOT a town of seasonal homes and college students. It is a well established mature suburb with great schools, excellent parks and beaches, wonderful shops and restaurants and a lot for families to do. The home prices there are lower primarily because it is on the outer fringe of what is considered to be commutable to Manhattan.

The issue with the college students is mostly along the western end of Fairfield Beach Road (generally centered around the lower Reef Road area) where there are still some older beach cottages that have long been rented to college students. This has been going on for more than 50 years now but has only gotten to be a problem since people have come into town, bought beach cottages and tore them down or remodeled them to be upscale expensive beach homes. These people have clashed with college students who right or wrong are being kids and having a good time.

The dump in Fairfield is long closed but there is a sewage treatment plant and garbage transfer station off of the lower end of Reef Road. There can be some smell associated with them but it is rare really. The streets to the east of Reef Road are great and have no problems with smells which is why so many of the smaller older homes there are being replaced with larger new homes. It is a great area. I think you would like it but again I would consider living closer to Greenwich if you can. Another option you may want to consider is Wilton. Great town and a little more affordable and closer to Greenwich. Jay

[BPt111]

Originally Posted by Stylo

I wouldn't wish that commute upon my worst enemy, unless his work is by a train station?

Otherwise he's going to deal with 25 miles of pure traffic hell.

Fairfield to Greenwich is 40 min commute now and days traffic on I-95 is uinpredictable any time of the day

[Raider111]

Originally Posted by BPt111

Fairfield to Greenwich is 40 min commute now and days traffic on I-95 is uinpredictable any time of the day

40 min is a pipe dream, not even close. Takes me 35-40 mins sometimes just to go to Rt 7.

Whats wrong with Greenwich itself?
Like the other guy said most of the college kids rent on lower Reef Rd and Fairfield Beach rd.
The dump can smell at times, especially on hot days, exactly why my other half did not want that area.
New construction is constant and never ending. Fun area though, lots of funky stuff goes on behind the scenes.
There is more top notch dining/shopping in the Westport/Fairfield/Norwalk area than you will ever need.

[Mike 75]

Sad to say that a $1 million housing budget doesn't get you much in Greenwich and even less in Darien. That's not to say the OP won't find anything they like in those towns, but there won't be a lot of options.

[beerisgood02]

I'd look in Westport or New Canaan.

[white_picket_fence]

What's this mean? "Fun area though, lots of funky stuff goes on behind the scenes."

you've got me curious.