10 Reasons Why Fairfield County Is a Great Place to Raise Your Family
I have been a Realtor in Fairfield County since 2009. My husband and I are currently raising our family in Weston, which coupled with my upbringing in nearby Greenwich allows me to truly give you a longtime local’s perspective; and while there are a plethora of reasons to move your family to Fairfield County, the below are the ones that top my personal list, and are why I chose to stay…
1. Top-Rated Education
Fairfield County is well-known for our prestigious Blue Ribbon Awarded Public School Districts. They also all consistently rank high on U.S. News & World Report, as well as Niche.com.
2. Something for Everyone
Each town in Fairfield County offers diversity in cuisine, activities, public recreation, and landscapes — this medley provides a culturally rich mecca of people and ways to live within a convenient proximity. You can live walking distance to town, on the beach or even have a farm … Fairfield County, Connecticut towns truly have it all.
3. Sensational Seasons
While living in CT, you will have the opportunity to experience amazing outdoor recreational and seasonal activities. In the summer, take advantage of the multitude of parks and beaches along Long Island Sound for sailing, kayaking, paddle boarding and tubing, farmers markets, outdoor movies, waterfront dining, strawberry picking, and so much more. In the fall, the foliage is some of the best in the country. You will also find a vast array of local farms that host pumpkin and apple picking, as well as kid-friendly and haunted hayrides/houses, ponds and rivers for fishing, and a ton of nature centers, zoos and aquariums. Winter boasts outdoor ice-skating rinks, snowboarding and skiing right here in CT, just north of Fairfield County, as well as in neighboring New York, New Hampshire, Vermont and Pennsylvania. Christmas tree farms are a fun activity — cut your own — or pick one up at a decked-out Winter Wonderland Village. Each town also hosts their own local holiday festivities. In the spring, there are state & national parks for hiking, biking and picnics. We are also home to quite an assortment of public and private golf courses, tennis courts and country and yacht clubs.
4. Rich in History
Fairfield County has deep historical roots. There are several museums — Bruce Museum, Stamford Museum & Nature Center,the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, Stepping Stones Museum for Children, Fairfield Museum & History Center, Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum, the Barnum Museum, Danbury Railway Museum, Weir Farm National Historical Park, the Discovery Museum and Planetarium, the Glass House, National Trust for Historic Preservation, MoCA Westport … to name a few. In addition to museums, Fairfield County is also home to historic architecture and town centers, providing residents with quintessential New England charm.
5. Local Arts + Entertainment
Art studios and galleries are prevalent throughout the county. Levitt Pavilion, Webster Bank Arena, Fairfield Theater Company and Silvermine Arts Center are our family’s favorites.
6. Restaurants + Retail
When it comes to dining and shopping, FC has got you covered. As I mentioned earlier, each town has a walkable town center with a cornucopia of restaurants, boutiques and big box brands alike. Making it both practical and unique. And the food — you don’t have to be in New York City to uncover and experience five-star eateries. Top towns to discover — Westport, Fairfield, Southport, Greenwich, New Canaan, SoNo, Darien, Stamford, Rowayton and Ridgefield.
7. Location, Location, Location
The proximity to New York City is by far one of the biggest pros to moving to Fairfield County. There is easy access to NYC via Metro-North, I95 and the Merritt Parkway. In addition to having arguably the best city in the world at your fingertips, you also have the luxury of New York’s international airports just a short drive or train ride away.
8. University Love
We are home to several universities, which provides ample hyper-local undergraduate and graduate education opportunities, sporting events and festivities. Sacred Heart University, Fairfield University and University of Connecticut (UConn) are just a few. To boot, Ivy League Yale is nearby in neighboring New Haven County.
9. Lower Taxes
If you are looking to leave NYC and debating on whether to venture off to Westchester County, NY or Fairfield County, CT, the choice is simple when it comes to taxes … Connecticut offers you similar proximity for a fraction of the cost in taxes.
10. Vacation Destinations
Whether you want to stay local and experience all that the coast of FC embodies, or you want to venture off a few hours, CT is in in the ideal mid-point location for you to experience all of New England’s finest waterfront destinations. A few of our families go-to’s — Nantucket, Cape Cod, The Hamptons, Rhode Island, Block Island, Fire Island, Coastal NJ … the possibilities are truly endless.
I hope this post inspires you to consider Connecticut and explore all that the area has to offer. Be sure to bookmark this page to reference in the future — and for more information on Fairfield County real estate visit BrossChingas.com.
Jenny Walsh is a Sales Associate with The Bross Chingas Bross Team at Coldwell Banker. Bross Chingas Bross has been #1 in the sale of Weston and Westport homes, 2013-present. The team ranked #100 in the U.S., per the Wall Street Journal, and #10 within Coldwell Banker globally.