[BenQ]

I'd like to get views from those who have moved from Greenwich to New Canaan (NC), or vice versa. The two towns are often thought of as similar, and in many ways they are however I considered the two towns quite different. I'm not commuting to the city now but may have to in the future if my Stamford job disappears. I've been renting in Greenwich for 5 years and now want to buy. I'd like any insight on:

- How difficult was the commute adjustment - assuming commuting into the city to work in mid-town. Commute times are about 12 minutes longer compared to Old Greenwich and 22 minutes longer compared to downtown greenwich. But there are fewer direct trains from NC, and traveling at off-peak times involves changing at Stamford.

- New Canaan is quite a lot smaller and has more of a small town feel. The population is less diverse. Did this take some getting used to?

- Greenwich has options for evening entertainment, NC is getting better but still the options are more limited.

- New Canaan schools seem much better, I'm using the public school system.

- In Greenwich (or Darien), any house for around $1m seems to have serious issues or is on a busy road or has road noise. Whereas in NC there are some other options.

- House prices in Greenwich have really popped, whereas in NC I think the increase has been more steady and potentially more upside to come.

[Stylo]

Obviously NC is a much longer commute than Greenwich. I know someone that commuted from NC and it wore on her very quickly. She wound up moving to Manhattan.

[BenQ]

Sure, don't know why anyone would do it if they had the option of living close to work.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

It is very rare to see people moving between NC and Greenwich. The more typical situation is they're moving from NY or Stamford to those respective towns. I don't think the OP will get a great response to this thread in light of that. FWIW, most of my clients in NC view their community to be more similar to Wilton than to Greenwich.

[Stylo]

Personally I would stick to Greenwich. The commute is a lot easier. Those 22 minutes make a big difference. You can even drive into the city as an option. If I had a $1MM+ housing budget and an NYC commute, I'd be in Greenwich over any CT town. Hands down. Then again, some people put up with insane commutes. Not for me.

I don't think NC appreciation will outpace Greenwich. They're both very solid investments.

NC schools do perform better in test scores, but IMO choosing one over another over schools is splitting hairs. The quality of education and experience will be similar.

[DCTMOFF]

We have lived in greenwich, now in Darien and have a child in PV school in New Canaan, so are up there a lot. The schools are fabulous in NC, small w a prep school focus. The spur that is the train adds a lot to the commute to NYC, no doubt about it - it is a trek. Plus, you will loose beach access. The traffic b/t NC, the Merritt (15) and down into stamford to 95 near the train station is gridlocked if you are thinking of just driving that last bit. 45 min or more for a few miles at the wrong time of day. Truthfully, I love NC, but not for a train commuter for NYC. Some folks drive to the other side of the train fork into NY from there and take it down in... you may only be two miles from Mt. Kisco at the edge...

[Wilton2ParkAve]

It's not possible to be less than 20 minutes from Mt. Kisco anywhere in New Canaan, or any of the Harlem Line stations for that matter.

[jax12479]

I don't think I know anyone who has moved from Greenwich to New Canaan so this is difficult to answer... they're very similar suburbs. As you already noted, Greenwich is bigger, more diverse and it's an easier commute to NYC. New Canaan is beautiful and the schools are great, but it's land locked and there's less to do. I don't think you can lose either way, a lot of people would envy the decision you're trying to make

[BenQ]

Compared to Darien I think the express train is only 9 minutes longer to NC. If I'm coming back late I could leave the car at Darien (rather than Stamford) and jutst drive up from there. Really my other option is Darien because I'm now priced out of Greenwich.

I read 1/3 of working NC residents commute to the city.

Also, currently I work in Stamford, but who knows what the future will bring and most jobs are in the city so need to be prepared for that.

my wife works in white plains and the drive from south NC to white plains along the merrit seems ok. Not much more time that the 95/287 route from downtown Greenwich.

[megcm1]

One thing no one has mentioned is that the train line starts in New Canaan. While there are less trains, at least you are guaranteed to get a seat.