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Hello,
Considering a purchasing house in the Brooklawn area of Fairfield, near the golf course. The assigned HS is Warde, I'm wondering why Warde isn't ranked--while Ludlow is ranked 16th in all of CT: Search Connecticut High Schools | US News
Any opinions/thoughts from locals would be a great help!
I'm not sold on the Brooklawn area in general, for the same reasons that everyone else has mentioned: proximity to Bridgeport, house values generally lower/you get more house for your money here, etc...
But we absolutely LOVE the house.
We just want to be sure that spending close to $1mm is worth it in this area if we decide to sell 10-15 years down the road.
I went to Warde (well, showing my age but it was Fairfield High then) and loved it. My cousins went there and loved it. Almost all of them went on, or are going, onto great universities. There is little difference between Warde and Ludlowe honestly.
I like the Brooklawn area, but $1m I can't see that being real.
Thank you both for your replies!
The house was originally listed at $1MM but it's come down a little since then. I'm assuming it'll come down some more since it's been on the market for a little bit.
I believe that both schools are likely very similar/no difference, but the perception might be that Ludlowe is better, unfortunately.
So in general, the school and proximity to Bport automatically command lower home values in Brooklawn... similar to Stamford and Norwalk areas?
Wanted to add that we're not only concerned with resale value! Does anyone have any thoughts on Tomlinson Middle School vs. Fairfield Woods/Ludlowe Middle schools?
Thanks!
You can't really go wrong with the schools in Fairfield...even those that aren't rated as high are still excellent.
That being said, I would seriously reconsider spending $1MM on a house in Brooklawn. You are pricing yourself at the top of the range for that area, and most people spending that amount would never consider being so close to Bridgeport. With your budget, you have a ton of options around town.
If it's directly adjacent to the country club, I don't think it's out of the question for it to be in that price range. There are some large homes there. I'm assuming that's the only place it could be?
Still, you would be the top dog neighborhood in that area.
Both Warde and Ludlowe perform well above the state averages on the Connecticut Academic Performance Tests. Ludlowe does perform a bit higher but given the overall quality of Fairfield school's curriculum I would not be concerned. I do not trust or believe most ratings given in magazines. Look carefully at the list and you will see there are many excellent schools in Connecticut not even on the list while some not so great schools are. The criteria they use does not make a lot of sense. It assumes that all school systems are basically the same in quality and in offering AP classes. That is not true in Connecticut where the schools are very good (among the best in the contry). For information on schools here check the website below.
That said, $1 million in the Brooklawn neighborhood is the very top end. I doubt there is a more expensive home there. In real estate they normally advise you to buy the lowest price home in the best neighborhood and avoid the most expensive home in a neighhood. The Brooklawn nieghborhood is stunning but its proximity to Bridgeport can turn off potential buyers. The fact that the OP is asking the same question proves this.
Personally I would not avoid the neighborhood but that is because I know it so well. We do have another regular on this forum that lives in Brooklawn and really loves it (Dazzelman where are you???). Only you can decide if the home is worth it or not. Just keep in mind that the neighborhood will likely always be considered less desireable than others in town. IF you are okay with that, then go for it. Good luck, Jay
You've all been so, so helpful--I really appreciate your responses. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
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