A rural, but not secluded community in Fairfield County
Mark Twain retired to Redding in 1908, and the tranquil rurality that attracted the famous American author to the countryside continues to draw residents to Easton-Redding. As its name suggests, the neighborhood is made up of two small towns in Fairfield County: Easton and Redding. “It’s really a pastoral, idyllic Connecticut suburb, but even though you’re set apart from a downtown area, you won’t feel isolated,” says Jason Mudd, managing partner at Cindy Raney and Team, which has served Fairfield County for over 20 years. With most homes in 2-acre zoning areas, the neighborhood has spacious green spaces and occasional family farms. “Typically speaking, you won’t find that much property acreage in surrounding towns,” Mudd says. Larger towns, like Trumbull and Shelton, and cities like Bridgeport offer dining and entertainment options nearby, and highly rated schools serve the neighborhood’s children.
Hiking, fishing and mountain biking at state parks
The adventurous head to Collis P. Huntington State Park to go hiking, mountain biking or horseback riding through forests, meadows and wetlands. The park also has multiple ponds for kayaking or fishing. There’s also the oldest public park in the state — Putnam Memorial State Park has a historic one-mile loop with remains of a Revolutionary War encampment from 1778. Residents go fishing in Putnam Pond, have a picnic under a canopy of trees or explore the museum. There are also numerous courses, including the Connecticut Golf Club, the Aspetuck Valley Country Club and the Redding Country Club, where residents can play rounds of golf. Neighbors can also mingle with other pet owners while their dogs exercise at the Easton Dog Park.
Colonial Revivals and farmhouses on multiple acres
Peaceful residential roads wind through the forests and countryside throughout Easton-Redding. The secluded feel results in lower home prices — though Connecticut’s real estate is more expensive than the rest of the county, Mudd notes that “by comparison, the cost of homes in Redding or Easton are more affordable than other desirable towns in Fairfield County.” Ranches from the mid-to-late 20th century cost between $500,000 and $750,000, while large Colonial Revivals cost between $900,000 and $1.3 million. Newly built contemporary farmhouses are priced between $1.5 million and $2 million. Occasionally, striking mansions from the early 2000s with pristine landscaping go on the market for between $3 million and $6 million. Homebuyers looking to build their own home have many parcels of land to choose from, as 3-acre lots sell for around $300,000 and 16-acre lots cost around $1.5 million.
Apple picking and fresh cider at Silverman's Farm
The neighborhood’s rural atmosphere offers seasonal attractions. “Silverman’s Farm is a big deal. They have a petting zoo with goats and apple picking, pumpkin picking and a general store where you can buy apple cider,” says Adrienne Schoetz, real estate advisor at Cindy Raney & Team. On Sunday summer evenings, residents pack picnic blankets and lawn chairs and head to the Redding Town Green for the town’s summer concert series. Locals return to the Town Green in December for a holiday parade. In Easton, the public library also hosts a holiday market, tree lighting and carolers. Throughout the year, residents can attend activities at the Mark Twain Library, which Twain founded in 1908 — 200 of his donated books remain in the meeting room of the current library. In May, the Frog Frolic Family Festival has food trucks, music, games and a silent auction to support the library. During Labor Day weekend, readers enjoy perusing stacks of books at the annual Mark Twain Library Book Fair.
Lattes and pastries at Greiser’s Coffee and Market
Aside from a couple of long-standing establishments that have served the community since the 1920s, dining and shopping options are limited. “You may not have restaurants within two minutes, but you can easily access phenomenal restaurants within 20 minutes. And because much of the driving is via backroads, it’s easy to drive,” Mudd says. In Easton, The Olde Blue Bird Inn serves breakfast in a rustic atmosphere, and Greiser’s Coffee and Market is another cozy spot serving sandwiches and iced coffee. The Redding Roadhouse serves classic American comfort food. More popular eateries are about 12 miles west of the neighborhood in Georgetown. Wire Mill Saloon and Barbecue is a go-to for brisket and mac and cheese, and Milestone offers burgers, beer on tap and outdoor live music. Residents can drive about 8 miles west to go grocery shopping at Caraluzzi's Georgetown Market or drive 10 miles south to the Trumbull Mall, which has a Target Grocery and retailers like Sephora and JCPenney.
Easton-Redding schools earn As
Easton-Redding has a combined school district called Easton-Redding-Region 9 School District. Children in Easton can begin at Samuel Staples Elementary, which has a B-plus rating from Niche, and advance to Helen Keller Middle, which has an A-minus. Kids in Redding can begin at A-minus-rated Redding Elementary and progress to A-rated John Read Middle. All high school students attend A-rated Joel Barlow High, which offers math, writing and career support centers.
State routes connect to I-95
The spacious countryside means that residents rely on personal vehicles to commute or run errands. “There’s more land and more privacy, but also more limited access to trains, so commuting to New York City every day would not be ideal. People could make it work for a hybrid schedule or do the reverse commute up to New Haven or Danbury,” Schoetz says. State routes wind through the area, and the Merritt Parkway runs near Easton’s southern edge, so residents can link with Interstate 95 to travel 25 miles northeast to New Haven or 65 miles southwest to New York City.
Photography Contributed By
Fabio Riso
