[CandyM]

My husband has a job offer in Norwalk and we keep hearing how great Westport is. After visiting it and researching, I do see the wonderful aspects of the community - great schools, beautiful downtown, on the water, nice stores, great public library. However, I didn't see ANY diversity there at all.. We are South Asian (North Indian) and have a 1 year old baby and another baby on the way. While I do value the excellent education I'm certain they'd get in Westport, I fear racism, intolerance and a lack of diversity around them.

Can you share ur experiences or other towns nearby u feel are just as good with a bit more diversity?

[renovating]

Westport is a very wealthy community with top schools. There aren't too many communties like that in our entire country that are very diverse. Thats just the way it is. However, Westport is also a very tolerant town and there is nothing to fear about it.

I would suggest living in Norwalk. Parts of it are gorgeous, it is definately more diverse and when your kids are in high school you can put them in private school if the schools don't meet your expectations.

[arielmina]

many of the Fairfield County towns (not cities) are not terribly diverse but I think Westport has a pretty liberal attitude about ethnicity....I think you should check it out.

[mlassoff]

I grew up in Westport, and while certainly not diverse, the attitutude towards people who are different is enlightened. There were certainly Asians, Indians, African Americans and just about everything else in my graduating class, but not in great numbers. I think, however, race is treated as pretty much a non-issue and no one is ostrasized for being different in some way.

I will say that, if memory serves, members of racial minorities were pretty acculturated and there wasn't any 'celebration' of the traditions of others either. Our class validictorian was of Indian heritage, and I don't think it ever occured to me until just now...

[RiceCake]

@mlassoff, I really like your response.

Even though it is less racially diverse here in E. CT than I expected, the people do seem less concerned with race than other places I have lived/been.

[JayCT]

Westport is an affluent suburb of New York and Stamford. There are people from all over the world living there. The community has an artsy feel to it which I think helps it to be accepting of others. It rreally should not be an issue. Jay

[kidyankee764]

I lived in Westport for years during my childhood. It was very accepting as long as you are accepting as well. This was 10+ years ago so it could have changed.

That said, I've always felt that Greenwich was most diverse. The uber-wealthy in town certainly skew the town's demographics. Getting through Stamford on I-95 each morning could be a challenge, unless you will be working off the Merritt in northwestern Norwalk.

[formermainer13]

I don't think you would have any problem at all in Westport. Its a fairly liberal town and most people there are far more educated and wordly than your average American. All in all, its pretty open-minded.

[Ms_Sophisticated_E]

I've lived in Norwalk, CT a majority of my life (18 years) and do not feel that CT is at all racist compared to other states in the country that I've lived in (MD being a prime example).
I've had friends that have lived in Westport and never once (that I know of) have they received anything different from the rest. All of us now have a graduate degree if not a PhD.
I am a African American and the majority of my friends in CT are as well. We were never treated differently in Westport or in any other part of CT that we traveled to or hung out in.
I'm not sure what state you previously lived in but I think you'll find a different atmosphere from the norm in CT.

[mimf]

I've lived in Stamford for 30 some odd years and brought up three kids here. I still think Stamford is the most diverse town in the area - ethnically, culturally and economically. That being said, it means that our city has the most diverse stats (ie school scores, etc.) Remember, you are looking at the average. Don't discount Stamford