Greenwich

Old Greenwich is a relaxing community along Connecticut's coast, home to local businesses and with easy access to the beach. "It's a very sophisticated, yet old-fashioned small town with a variety of people from many backgrounds that are very down to earth and fun to be with," says Cynthia De Riemer, an award-winning Realtor and local in Old Greenwich. "You bump into people that you know, but then you’re always meeting someone new, which means there's usually fresh new ideas and lots of community spirit.” Many streets here are marked for private residences, where New England and Cape Cod homes show off gambrel roofs, dormer windows and shingle siding. Its cozy downtown features new and old stone buildings with small boutiques, a bookstore and restaurants. Students attend top-rated schools within the Greenwich Public School district, which is the No. 5 best school district in Connecticut and scores an A-plus on Niche. Old Greenwich is one of the more desirable Greenwich neighborhoods because "it is one of the shorefront communities. Greenwich Point Park, we call it Tod's Point, is the crown jewel of amenities within all of Greenwich," De Riemer says. "People put in their kayaks and sailboats, swim and picnic at the beautiful beach and can hike the multiple trails." Binney Park is across the street from Perrot Memorial Library, with walking paths and sports fields. A pavilion rests on the island within the park’s pond, where visitors can ice skate in the wintertime or view 4th of July firework shows in summer. Innis Arden Golf Club, established in 1899, offers its members an 18-hole golf course, swimming pool, racquet sports courts and fitness center. Townhouse and condo associations in Old Greenwich offer their residents access to fitness centers, pools, sports courts and outdoor gathering spaces. These townhouses and condo units can be found at prices between $350,000 and almost $800,000. A few single-family ranch-style homes with two-to-three bedrooms can cost around $700,000, but most homes in Old Greenwich start around $2 million. These sprawling homes with Craftsman columns, spacious porches and wide windows sit on lots with less than an acre. Estates with proximity to nearby beaches and more than five bedrooms can reach prices over $9 million. “Homes near the water may end up in a flood zone but people are still willing to live here because of the lifestyle and the community,” De Riemer says. “There are ways to correct it, and while water may be disruptive in some areas, in others, it’s not so bad.” For such a close-knit community, it’s no wonder that Old Greenwich hosts several annual and weekly events. “One of the things I love about Greenwich is that the libraries are amazing. Perrot Library is a very beloved amenity in town,” De Riemer says. “They have events for kids, like Perrot in your PJs, where they go at 7 pm for bedtime stories, which is cute. They also have a variety of speakers and authors who come in weekly.” The library also hosts Movies in the Park at Binney Park in the summertime. During the 4th of July, residents can camp out at Binney Park or on the coastline at Greenwich Point Park to watch the fireworks shows. Old Greenwich's vibrant downtown consists of many shops and restaurants. "We call the downtown area along Sound Beach Avenue ‘The Village’ because it's got many shops, restaurants, a post office, grocery store, elementary school and a train station to NYC... it really feels like a village here," De Riemer says. Sweet Pea’s Baking Company has classic farmer’s breakfasts and triple stack pancakes alongside pastries and coffees. Since 1994, Upper Crust Bagel Company has been serving bagels to the Old Greenwich community. Osteria Applausi is a family-owned restaurant that believes in simple and wholesome Italian cuisine such as their famous slow-braised veal shank. For everyday errands, Kings Food Markets grocery store and Ace Hardware are also nearby. Depending on their address, students can attend kindergarten through fifth grade at North Mianus School or International School at Dundee, both of which are graded an A-plus. They can also attend Old Greenwich School for kindergarten through fifth grade, which scores an A. All students in Old Greenwich can then move on to Eastern Middle School for sixth through eighth grade, and finally Greenwich High School, both of which are graded an A-plus. Old Greenwich, though coastal, is within driving distance of Stamford, about 4 miles north via Shore Road. Manhattan is about 37 miles south, and Old Greenwich residents can get there in about an hour during times of low traffic. The Old Greenwich train station is right in town and can take passengers to Stamford and Grand Central Station. The Stamford Hospital is located 3 miles north.

Located on the southernmost part of the Connecticut coast, Byram seamlessly blends friendly, embracing neighbors and exclusive residential life. "Byram is one of the most expensive parts of town," says Cynthia DeRiemer, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty. "In the Byram neighborhood, there are people from all over the world, and there's a strong sense of community." Byram, a Greenwich suburb, offers a mix of residential homes. There are 1,000- to 2,000-square-foot Cape Cods and older colonials with hardwood floors and up to a half acre of backyard space, some that have been developed into multifamily dwellings, in the $500,000 to $900,000 price range. "In the more exclusive part of town, prices reflect that, with homes going for about $7 million on average. It's a strictly residential area, and when people think of Greenwich with the big expensive homes, this is where they think of," DeRiemer says. These larger, 3,000- to 5,000-square-foot Colonial Revivals and postmodern homes come equipped with up to an acre of yard space, some with fenced-in back patios and attached multi-car garages, starting around $2 million and growing upwards of $7 million for waterfront properties. Students in the area are part of Greenwich Public Schools, rated No. 3 in the state by Niche. With an A-plus rating overall and A-plus ratings for its clubs, activities, teachers, academics and college prep, this school district is one of the area's big draws for homebuyers with school-aged children or dependents. Byram's youngest learners can start their academic journeys at New Lebanon Elementary School, which has an A-plus rating on Niche. Western Middle School has an A rating from Niche, excellent ratings for its teachers and academic programs and a student-teacher ratio of 11 to 1. Students finish their secondary academic journey at Greenwich High School, the fourth-best high school in Connecticut, according to Niche. Greenwich High has an A-plus rating overall and A or higher ratings for its 150+ clubs, including artificial intelligence, cornhole, gambling awareness and music theory clubs. For a bite to eat, head to the shops at Byram. "There are some great restaurants in that part of town," DeRiemer says. Locals love Bar Rosina's, located in the cluster of businesses along Mill Street that make up Byram's commercial district. Bar Rosina's serves tasty Italian cuisine in a rustic setting, with hardwood floors and warm colors throughout, lending the feeling of a mother's kitchen to the restaurant. This strip of restaurants makes going out to eat in Byram a breeze, residents enjoy this walkable area on weeknights and weekends. Residents can often be found hanging out at Byram Park, a beachfront greenspace with a pool, baseball field, and open space perfect for basking in the sun or throwing a frisbee back and forth. During the warmer months, locals enjoy grilling at the park's picnic shelters, splashing around in the water or anchoring their boats around one of the small islands near the shore. In the southern tip of the neighborhood, Hawthorne Beach offers swimming and beach access to members of the Hawthorne Beach Association. Several bus stops line Mill Street, and Interstate 95 runs through the neighborhood, making it easy for residents to get anywhere along the New England coast. Locals can drive south on the interstate for 30 miles and land in the heart of New York City, or they can drive north for 48 miles to arrive in New Haven. Byram offers an attractive mix of premium housing and waterfront neighborhood amenities like beaches, docks and parks. Its commercial district is home to popular restaurants and highway convenience, and the area's friendly community creates a welcoming atmosphere, making this Greenwich coastal suburb a desirable place to call home.

Known as one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the country, Back Country Greenwich is exactly as it sounds. Located about 6 miles from the town of Greenwich, the community is surrounded by golf courses and nature preserves and is riddled with sprawling multimillion-dollar private estates. “There is a lot of acreage in Back Country,” says Realtor Amanda Miller of Houlihan Lawrence and area resident of 35 years. “The area is definitely for someone who likes a bit more privacy.” With easy access to the Gold Coast of Connecticut and Manhattan just 40 miles away, it’s no wonder why this affluent neighborhood is so highly sought after. Selection in this neighborhood consists entirely of single-family homes that price starting in the millions. Large private lots and sprawling landscapes are characteristic of the area, providing ample space for tiered gardens, private pools, tennis courts and courtyards. Prospective buyers can find a variety of styles here. A modest three-bedroom cottage on four acres begins around $1.3 million; a seven-bedroom modern Craftsman mansion on five acres starts around $4.1 million, and a stately six-bedroom Georgian Colonial with a private pool prices around $6.5 million. These options run all the way up to a 15,000 square foot French Colonial Revival on 27 acres, with its own wine cellar and a heated indoor pool, beginning at $30 million. Top-tier properties like this also have amenities like secluded beaches, guest houses, spas and walled gardens. Students are zoned for Greenwich Public Schools, rated the No. 3 district in the state by Niche. Young learners in the neighborhood begin at Parkway School for elementary, which earns an A, before heading to Eastern Middle School, which receives an A-plus rating. Students finish their secondary educational journey at Greenwich High School, the fourth-best high school in Connecticut, according to Niche. Greenwich High has an A-plus rating overall and A or higher ratings for its clubs, activities, teachers, academics and college prep. The school has more than 150 clubs to choose from, including artificial intelligence, cornhole, gambling awareness and music theory clubs. Golfers will be delighted by the multitude of choices, as there are no less than five courses in Back Country Greenwich. Golf Digest ranked the Stanwich Club on the eastern side of the neighborhood as the best course in the state of Connecticut in 2023, with Tamarack Country Club on the western side earning the No. 4 slot. “It’s a great area for people who like to play golf,” Miller says. “There are great parks with lots of trails, too.” For a breath of fresh air or a meandering stroll through the New England woodlands, Babcock Preserve offers over 7 miles of trails canopied by towering oak trees, and the Greenwich Audubon Center manages seven public wildlife sanctuaries, such as the Fairchild Wildflower Sanctuary. The nearest shopping and restaurant options to the neighborhood are 6 miles away in downtown Greenwich. Residents can grab coffee and a traditional French pastry from Raphael’s Bakery, shop for groceries at Whole Foods and stop in at Saks Fifth Avenue along Greenwich Avenue. Five miles further in Old Greenwich, Le Fat Poodle is a famous French bistro that serves iconic dishes like wicked tartare, blistered shishito peppers and the pu-pu platter. To end the day, Siren Restobar is a relaxing spot to sip a cocktail and catch up with friends. US Route 15 cuts through the area, and Westchester New York County Airport borders the neighborhood, making travel easy. “The airport is very convenient for anyone who commutes to places like Chicago or Virginia,” Miller says. “It’s all private terminals, and it’s just very convenient.” Residents can also catch a train at Greenwich Station, which will bring them straight to the heart of New York City in just over one hour. One of the most popular places to spend a Sunday in Back Country is the Greenwich Polo Club. “The polo is a great spectator sport,” Miller says. When the weather is fair, residents flock to the polo matches held every weekend to spread a blanket on the lawn and share a picnic with the family or splurge on the Players’ Lounge experience, complete with a VIP bar and reclining lawn chairs. Picnic boxes are available, along with offerings from several food trucks that can be enjoyed at the picnic tables scattered about.

With breathtaking views of the waters and home to one of the most premium shopping destinations in the country, Downtown Greenwich is the heart of this New England town, offering exciting art, culture and entertainment options. Greenwich first became popular with the arrival of the railroad in the early 1900s, and it quickly became the destination for wealthy New Yorkers who wanted country estates as second homes to escape the bustling city. While the narrative still holds true, Downtown Greenwich is now synonymous with luxury living, filling the landscape with premier boutiques, a vibrant art scene, million-dollar residential homes and top-performing schools that are on par with all the desirable attractions of the town. “People are always struck by the beauty and convenience of the town,” says Fred Camillo, First Selectman of Greenwich. “We have beautiful beaches you can walk to, world-class stores, great dining and sporting venues, and we have the lowest tax rate in Connecticut.” “We are the gateway to New England, and you’ll see lots of traditional New England-style homes. Properties have strict zoning regulations, so we don’t have many houses that look out of place,” Camillo says. The community’s single-family Cape Cod, ranch-style and traditional homes around 1,500 to 2,000 square feet may start at $850,000 and climb to $2 million. Larger New England shingle-style houses with front porches and dormer windows, Colonial Revivals and Tudor Revivals close to 4,000 or 5,000 square feet can reach between $2 million and $4.5 million. Yard sizes vary from 2,000 square feet to a half-acre, and yards are often well-landscaped with white picket fences or trimmed shrubbery. Tucked between Indian Harbor and Smith Cove, the prestigious Indian Harbor Association features peninsula and waterfront estates in a gated, around-the-clock secured community that starts at $5 million and goes up to multi-millions. Condo units range from $400,000 to $700,000, while townhouses and duplex units run between $700,000 and $2 million. Referred to by Greenwich locals simply as “The Ave,” Greenwich Avenue is one of the most prominent shopping destinations on the East Coast. Home to upscale designers and department stores such as Baccarat, Hermes and Saks Fifth Avenue, the lively shopping district also features locally curated boutiques and longstanding mom-and-pop stores, including Out of the Box and Michelangelo’s. Make a reservation at the iconic L’Escale and enjoy French fine dining right on the waters at Greenwich Harbor. Additional options include Eastend for New American fare and the Northern Italian bistro-inspired Terra Ristorante Italiano. Grocery store options include Acme, Whole Foods Market and Garelick & Herbs, and Target is about 6 miles away in Stamford. Located on a small peninsula in Greenwich Harbor, Roger Sherman Baldwin Park offers sparkling views of the water and is a great place to catch a breeze and enjoy the water. With a skate park and a relaxing open field, this park is often the gathering place for many outdoor concerts and events. Home to Bryce Museum and 100 acres of natural landscape, residents can explore Bruce Park’s scenic walking paths along the ponds and play sports at the athletic fields and tennis courts. Children can explore the sizeable playground’s well-maintained equipment and climbing ropes. For swimming, boating and other water activities, residents may head to one of Greenwich's popular beaches, such as Island Beach or Greenwich Point Beach. The annual Art to the Avenue Festival is where Greenwich Avenue becomes an outdoor gallery with artwork by local artists displayed for an entire month. Locals may also explore the numerous independent art galleries that dot The Ave, including C. Parker Gallery and Weber Fine Art. Bruce Museum organizes the Outdoor Crafts Festival in spring and the Outdoor Arts Festival in fall at Bruce Park. Film lovers may plan to attend the Greenwich International Film Festival in late April, and shoppers can bookmark their July calendar for the Greenwich Sidewalk Sale, where shops on Greenwich Avenue line the streets with pop-up tents and bargain deals. In celebration of the historic town, Greenwich citizens come together every year for the Greenwich Town Party, featuring music lineups and children's activities such as face painting and bounce houses. Area primary students may attend Julian Curtiss School, rated A by Niche, which is a public magnet school offering instruction in world languages such as Spanish and French. Central Middle School also scores an A while Greenwich High School receives an A-plus and offers over 350 classes, including 32 Advanced Placement courses. Known for its proximity to New York City, Greenwich is about 35 miles from the metropolis via Interstate 95. Metro-North Railroad has a train station in Greenwich, providing commuters with transportation services throughout New York and Connecticut. Westchester County Airport is about 8 miles away and offers nonstop flights to major cities such as New York, Chicago and Miami, and Greenwich Hospital is right by the neighborhood.

Just east of the New York-Connecticut border, Mid-Country West is an idyllic Greenwich suburb near some of the town’s most popular hubs. Multi-million-dollar estates surround the 220-acre Round Hill Club, home to an 18-hole golf course and pool. Camp Simmons is a day camp for the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich that bustles with outdoor adventure between June and August. A YMCA, public library and numerous grocery stores line four-lane Putnam Avenue, spanning the neighborhood’s southern region. Designer retailers, Italian restaurants and upscale bars fill Greenwich Avenue’s Italianate-style storefronts, about 4 miles south. “Mid-Country West is a vast geographical area, but that lends to its convenient location,” says Julie Grace Burke, a broker with Compass, who has sold several homes in the area. “You practically live on the New York-Connecticut border, so this area is extremely popular for commuters, whether they’re driving or taking the train.” Custom-built estates on 2-to-20-acre plots dot Mid-Country West’s winding, asphalt roads. “You won’t find any two houses that look the same here because they’re all custom,” Burke says. “Most of them were also built between the 1950s and ‘90s, which is newer for Greenwich. Houses closer to the water were built in the early 1900s.” Stone walls surround clapboard Colonial Revivals. Wrought iron fences guard long driveways leading to six-bedroom French chateau-style homes. Private swimming pools and tennis courts sit behind red-brick Georgian Revivals. Dense canopies of eastern white pine and red maple trees shade 8,000-square-foot Cape Cods. Compared to a Greenwich home’s average $3 million selling price, Mid-Country West homes on 2 acres typically start at $3 million, while properties with more land may cost upwards of $10 million. Ivy covers Round Hill Club’s English cottage-style stone clubhouse, built in 1924. After a $100,000 initiation fee, annual dues typically cost around $15,000. “Like many country clubs in Greenwich, Round Hill is invitation-only, and the wait list is years long,” Burke says. White umbrellas shade lounge chairs around the L-shaped swimming pool. A striped green and white awning hangs over the outdoor dining area. Pot sand bunkers, pin oak trees and a few manmade water hazards dot the 18-hole golf course. Inside, the club has a fitness center and rubber tennis courts. Greenwich Country Club and Burning Tree Country Club are nearby in neighboring Mid-Country East. Besides the country club, Mid-Country West is home to several other recreational hubs. Camp Simmons spans 77 acres just off Lake Avenue. Kids can kayak and fish on the private pond, learn to shoot a bow and arrow at the archery range and tie-dye t-shirts in the crafting cabin. The YMCA of Greenwich on Putnam Avenue has a fitness center and pool inside a Greek Revival-style building from 1916. On the same street, Greenwich Library’s three-story glass and limestone building regularly hosts preschool story times and local art showings in the gallery. Gravel hiking trails and a sandy shoreline stretch across Greenwich Point Park, a public beach alongside the Long Island Sound, about 9 miles southeast of Mid-Country West. Children here can attend Parkway School and Central Middle, both of which have A grades from Niche. Then, students may continue to Greenwich High School, where they are offered 32 Advanced Placement classes, including German, European history and physics. Tudor-style buildings fill Eagle Hill School’s 17-acre campus on Glenville Road. Since 1975, the boarding school has specialized in educating students with language-based learning disabilities. Locals can grab groceries at the Stop & Shop or Whole Foods on Putnam Avenue, also home to several luxury car dealerships and fast-food restaurants like Dunkin’. “Putnam Avenue is for running errands, and Greenwich Avenue is more for shopping sprees or a night out,” Burke says. Potted pink inpatients hang from the vintage lampposts lining Greenwich Avenue, a half-mile-long commercial strip with stores like Saks Fifth Avenue, Hermès and Le Labo. Renaissance-style paintings decorate the ceiling of Terra, known for its wood-fired pizza and handmade pasta since 1991. Casks adorn the reclaimed wood walls at Harvest, a seafood restaurant serving around 50 bottles of wine. Mid-Country West is car-dependent, as residential streets don’t have sidewalks. The Connecticut Turnpike is about 5 miles south of the neighborhood, making New York City 35 miles south and New Haven 45 miles north. New Haven is equidistant via Merritt Parkway, immediately west of the neighborhood. Next to the turnpike, the Greenwich MTA Station follows the Metro-North Railroad with several stops across New York and Connecticut. Bus riders will find several Connecticut Transit stops along Putnam Avenue. Greenwich Hospital is on Perryridge Road, and the Westchester County Airport is about 8 miles to the west.

Glenville began as a mill town built along the Byram River, but now it’s a luxurious suburb in western Greenwich, situated just over the New York border. “Greenwich has five different zip codes, so there are a lot of different ways to live in here,” says Megan Epand, a real estate agent with Houlihan Lawrence who was born and raised in Greenwich. “Glenville is subdivided into larger lots out in the country, with more of a suburban feel.” The Historic Glenville District is a small downtown area with a couple of walkable streets lined with red brick buildings, where residents can grab a bite at local restaurants. Children attend highly regarded schools, and commuters only have to drive a couple of miles to downtown Greenwich, where they can catch a commuter rail to New York City or go to a coastal park to enjoy views of the Long Island Sound. Aside from a 19th-century Romanesque Revival building converted into a luxury apartment complex called The Mill in downtown Glenville, residents live in single-family homes nestled among canopies of trees. Classic Connecticut homes with spacious yards line the peaceful, shaded streets. Ranches, bi-levels and smaller Cape Cods built in the early 1970s and 80s cost between $900,000 and $1.7 million. Mid-century modern properties and Colonial Revivals are priced between $1.8 and $2.2 million. Striking estates with grand entrances and precisely landscaped lawns feature homes in Tudor Revival and Colonial Revival designs. These properties cost anywhere between $5 million and $9.6 million. Despite Connecticut’s high real estate prices, many homebuyers settle over the New York border, as “taxes are significantly lower here than in New York. A house that might have $30,000 in taxes per year in New York might be around $12,000 here,” Epand explains. A new place to explore Glenville’s meadows and forests opened in 2022 when the Greenwich Land Trust finished developing the Converse Brook Preserve. Marked nature trails for walking or snowshoeing loop through the woods and curve past the Converse Pond Brook. Horseback riders can explore on the horse trails, but dogs aren’t allowed in the preserve. If they want to immerse themselves in fields of wildflowers to go birdwatching, residents can travel 5 miles north to Greenwich Audubon Center, a nearly 700-acre nature sanctuary. The Western Greenwich Park and Civic Center is a hub for both youth and adult recreation, featuring an outdoor playground, baseball and soccer fields, an open indoor gym and pickleball courts. Golfers can choose between two exclusive golf clubs: Round Hill Club is a mile northeast, and Blind Brook Club is a mile west in New York. Red brick buildings along the Byram River in the Glenville Historic District recall Glenville’s days as a mill village, though now the 19th-century buildings host reliable local restaurants, marked with painted green and gold signs. Mornings can begin with New York-style bagels from Popup Bagels, and lunchtime often calls for coffee and sandwiches, which locals often call wedges, from The Country Table. Gville Deli is another favorite spot for specialty wedges, soup and salad, and Glenville Pizza is a casual pizzeria popular for its Sicilian slices and beer on tap. There aren’t any grocery stores in the neighborhood, but locals only drive about 3 miles to shop near downtown Greenwich. Citarella Gourmet Market is a specialty grocery store where residents can find fresh seafood, baked goods and pasta, but Stop and Shop and Whole Foods stock a wide variety of ingredients and household essentials. Greenwich Avenue is also a popular destination for upscale retail shopping, where residents can stop in Aritzia, Lululemon and Saks Fifth Avenue. Elementary school-aged kids can begin at Glenville School, which earns an A rating from Niche. Students progress to A-rated Western Middle and A-plus-rated Greenwich High, which is ranked the fourth-best high school in Connecticut. The high school’s career pathways help prepare students for the future — clusters include business, marketing, early childhood development and more. Glenville and the neighboring community of Pemberwick share a neighborhood association that organizes seasonal events and local projects. Every September, the community heads to Western Greenwich Civic Center Park for ValleyJam, a festival with live music, food trucks, raffles and other family-friendly activities. Kids can take pictures with Santa, enjoy seasonal treats and drop off a letter addressed to the North Pole during the Santa in the Park event at Pemberwick Park. “Everyone will come out for the big Greenwich events, too, like the Greenwich Town Party. We’ve had some big bands come — Billy Joel and the Eagles played in the past,” Epand says. The 2024 festival features Mumford & Sons. The Merritt Parkway bisects Glenville and turns into the Hutchinson River Parkway at the New York border, which commuters can use to drive 35 miles southwest to New York City. However, Deborah Laemmerhirt, a Realtor with Keller Williams Luxury International, advises, “You have to plan your commute. Driving to the city can take one to two hours, but the train takes an hour.” The Greenwich commuter station, where residents catch the New Haven line on the Metro-North Railroad, is 3 miles from Glenville. Interstate 95 runs parallel to the rail line, offering a route to travel northeast toward New Haven, Providence and Boston.