‘The Gold Coast’: Fairfield County, CT.
Fairfield County is the first Connecticut county you encounter as you cross the New York/Connecticut border. These CT commuter towns of NYC make up what is known as ‘The Gold Coast’, a name that describes their affluence as well as their scenic beauty. Four of these towns made BLOOMBERG’s America’s richest places list: Darien, Old Greenwich (technically part of Greenwich), Riverside (also part of Greenwich) and Westport.
Once weekend escapes for Manhattan’s wealthy, these thriving commuter towns of Fairfield County are served by Metro-North’s New Haven line out of Grand Central Station.
While the towns have much in common, each has its own distinct personality. Find out more below.
Greenwich (including Byram, Greenwich, Cos Cob, Riverside and Old Greenwich)
Almost twice the size of Manhattan, Greenwich is the southernmost and westernmost town along the Gold Coast. Among its 62,000 residents are titans of the finance and business world and Hollywood elites. The different neighborhoods and districts that make up Greenwich feel like distinct towns. In fact Greenwich, Cos Cob, Old Greenwich and Riverside, while all officially part of the Town of Greenwich, all have their own zipcodes and train stations with direct lines to the city.
Stamford
East of Greenwich is the City of Stamford, which borders Pound Ridge, NY to the North, the Long Island Sound to the South, Darien to the East, and New Canaan to the Northeast. With 130,000 people spread over 52 square miles, it is the third-largest city in the state. It consists of several neighborhoods and villages including Cove, East Side, Downtown, North Stamford, Glenbrook, West Side, Turn of River, Waterside, Springdale, Belltown, Ridgeway, Newfield, South End, Westover, Shippan, Roxbury and Palmers Hill. North of the Merritt Parkway is considered North Stamford. North Stamford encompasses the largest land mass, but it is the least densely populated. It functionally and legally acts as one municipality within the City of Stamford.
Darien
By contrast, Darien is a smaller town on Connecticut’s Gold Coast. Of CT’s non-college towns, it has the youngest adult population, many of whom are married with children. It boasts eleven parks, two public beaches, a private beach, three country clubs and a couple of boat clubs. Naturally, Darien is a popular choice for families moving from the city to the suburbs.
New Canaan
Neighboring Darien to the North is the similarly sized population of New Canaan. New Canaan has a healthy rivalry with Darien in almost everything, from school test scores and high school sports to boutique shops, restaurants and architecture. This charming town is still considered part of the Gold Coast, even though it is inland and surrounded by trees and open spaces. Its train station is serviced by a branch line of the Metro-North New Haven Line. During commuter hours, it operates trains directly to and from Grand Central.
Norwalk
Norwalk is also a city, but is much smaller than Stamford. Like Stamford, it is multi-faceted and diverse, from the bustle of the bars and restaurants of SoNo (South Norwalk) to the mellow beach town of Rowayton. It contains all the city amenities you’d expect, and even if you decide to live in one of the other surrounding towns, you will undoubtedly find yourself visiting Norwalk from time to time.
Westport
Westport is another Gold Coast community with around 28,000 people. It is located where the Saugatuck River meets the Long Island Sound, with Burying Hill Beach to the north, Sherwood Island and Compo Beach to the east, and Saugatuck Shores to the south. Around 1910, Westport became a creative haven for many artists, musicians and authors (including F. Scott Fitzgerald). From the 50s to the 70s, the population grew quickly as it attracted New Yorkers relocating to the suburbs, bringing with them chic shops and restaurants. Today the town’s love of the arts is as strong as ever with regular music performances at the Levitt Pavillion, The Museum of Contemporary Art (Westport) and The Westport Country Playhouse.
Fairfield (including Southport and Greenfield Hill)
Fairfield is a town of multiple personalities. It is a university town, home to Fairfield University and Sacred Heart University, with bars, music, theater, comedy and sporting events. It has the picturesque and peaceful village of Southport, which boasts prime examples of Colonial, Victorian, and Federalist architecture. To the north is Greenfield Hill, a collection of exquisite and vast country estates. There is also Fairfield’s Historical Districts, listed on the National Register of Historical places. Downtown Fairfield bustles with galleries, boutiques and restaurants. You can find it all in Fairfield.
