Darien (Stamford, Fairfield, Westport: price, commute, communities)

[carolyn11]

How does Darien compare to Westport. Re: shopping, schools,parking at train station. and overall community

[kenfried]

Darien is smaller and more quaint. The shopping is Westport is great, just about anything you need.

School systems are both terrific. The commute into NYC will be shorter by about 10-15 mins from Darien. They both probably have a waiting list for permit spots at train station, but they have metered daily spots.

Both communities are tops in SW Fairfield County. Great quality of life in either town. Both very pricey.

[carolyn11]

Where is the major shopping,i.e. malls, grocery shopping. I have two young children, so convenience is important. Thank you.

[mels]

There are plenty of shops around. Both towns have smaller shops as well as chain stores. Rt. 1 is packed with them for the length of almost the entire shoreline. There is a big mall in Stamford that has tons of stores. You aren't exactly out in the sticks when you are on the shoreline. Everything you will ever need will be a short drive away, I am talking minutes.

Both Darien and Westport have super sized grocery stores (I belive Shaw's is in both towns, Stop and Shop is in Westport too). A Trader Joe's is in both towns, which is a plus. Westport also has Wild Oats (like a Whole Foods).