[sf2nyc08]

Really great info. Thank you!

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by sf2nyc08

Yes! This helps! I'll definitely take a look at those areas in Fairfield. Do you have any thoughts on Westport, Weston, Wilton?

To add a bit to what Kidyankee784 said, Westport is the home to a number of celebrities. Living there are Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Michael Bolton, Marlo Thomas, Phil Donahue. There are others as well. Westport has a wonderful downtown area and some of the regions best restaurants. For entertainment there is the world renowned Westport Country Playhouse which Joanne Woodward is currently serving as Director of. The schools are excellent (amoung the best in the state) and there is a lot of family activities.

Weston is located just north of Westport and many residents there go to Westport for things (shopping, restaurants, entertainment, etc.). It is a very pretty rural town (large lots) where much of the land is set aside as watershed for the reservoirs. The schools are also excellent and there are some family related activities.

Wilton is also very nice and very family oriented. Many people in town will go over to neighboring New York to catch trains into the city because the Danbury line trains are somewhat limited and take longer.

All of these are great towns. They are considered to be among the most desireable in the country. It is just a matter of determining which one would best suit your family. Good luck, Jay

[yankeemom]

Wilton does not have as much of a reputation for "snobby" as some other Fairfield County towns, but there has been as influx of more $$$ in the last few years; still not as much as New Canaan or Westport. Housing costs have slowed or declined in the last year or so. I do not know anyone in Wilton who goes into New York to catch the train. Many do go into South Norwalk to avoid having to connect. Regarding crew, there are some teens and adults here very into crew, but they do have to get down to the sound or a river to do it! See:www.saugatuckrowing.com or www.norwalkriverrowing.org or www.maritimerowing.net

[sf2nyc08]

thank you!

[kmbrewer2]

I live in Darien and commuted from here for 15 years. I am now a broker in the area. Consider the followin g towns. Greenwich (VERY expensive),Darien,New Canaan,Wilton,Westport and no further. These are the twons that have the excellent schools and the type of lifestyle you describe.

[CTedcon]

If you really want diversity, you'll only really find it in Fairfield County's cities -- also where you're more likely to find down-to-earth people and good/reasonably priced shopping/restaurants. The under-1 hour commutes are Stamford and Norwalk. Both those cities have great neighborhoods and some excellent schools, though not all. More important, top-performing students in those towns are totally competitive with top performing students in the homogenous towns like New Canaan, Darien and Westport. I'm an educational consultant and we chose Norwalk because we valued diversity over test scores. Check out Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk, which also houses
a great magnet school called the Center for Global Studies.

[Family 5]

Trumbull!!!!! Great town...Great Schools...parks, playgrounds, pools, water parks, not much dining out...but that is very close by.

Good luck to you!