Milford, Connecticut, is a waterfront town of about 50,000 people cradled between the Long Island Sound and the Housatonic River. Milford offers a laid-back, coastal lifestyle about 13 miles from New Haven and 65 miles from New York City. Classic New England architecture can be found throughout town, and a small downtown strip is dotted with mom-and-pop shops and family-owned restaurants.
On land once populated by the Paugussett Tribe, the Milford settlement dates back to 1639 when it was part of the New Haven Colony. As the fifth oldest town in Connecticut, the city is dedicated to preserving its historical buildings and small-town atmosphere. “They call it the ‘small city with a big heart,’ but it truly is. Neighbors help neighbors,” says Victoria Stillings, Milford native and Realtor at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Milford. “I’ve left a million times, but I always come back. It calls you in the middle of the night.”
The Housatonic River near Wheelers Farm Road offers iconic views.
Devon benefits from nearby beaches and active water enthusiasts.
Devon is cuddled against Downtown Milford in Connecticut.
A relaxing walk at dusk near the river after a day out on Parkway Wheelers Farm Road.
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Coastline recreation at Silver Sands State Park
Water lovers can be found fishing, boating and paddling on the sound, or enjoying the sun on one of the local beaches. Trumbull and Gulf beaches see the most traffic, while a quieter local gem is found in Walnut Beach, accessible from East Broadway and Viscount Drive. Boat owners can store their watercraft at Milford Harbor Marina, Spencer’s Marina or Lisman Landing Marina.
Silver Sands State Park covers almost 300 acres of shorefront and marsh, and visitors can walk along the 1-mile boardwalk path or go saltwater fishing from the shore or the sandbar. When the tide is low, park-goers can walk along the sand bar to Charles Island, which the community has come together to protect from erosion. “The island is smaller than it was before. There is a campaign now to rebuild the trees on the island, since a hurricane knocked all of them off,” Stillings says.
During different times of year, hikers and cross-country skiers explore the 2 miles of wooded trails at Solomon Woods. Down the road, Eisenhower Park is home to sports facilities for soccer, tennis, pickle ball and basketball, along with a playground and splash pad. On the south side of Eisenhower Park is the Benson-Crump Memorial Community Garden, where locals rent out plots seasonally to grow and harvest their own produce. Along with spaces for locals to nourish their own household, there are three garden plots dedicated to growing food for those in need.
Milford experiences warm summers and cool winters. Lows during the winter often dip below freezing but don’t always stay that way. “We used to skate on the ponds when I was a kid, but they don’t freeze much anymore,” Stillings says. “It’s cold, but it doesn’t stay cold for long.”
Devon has charming and welcoming decor all throughout the neighborhood.
Silver Sands State Park is great for a beachside walk on the boardwalk in Devon.
Walnut Beach has year round access for walks and fishing in Devon.
Locals enjoy a game of pickleball at Howard Park in Woodmont.
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An annual oyster festival and summer concerts
Milford puts on its annual Oyster Festival each August, combining the feel of a town fair with a celebration of the Long Island Sound’s rich history of shellfish harvesting. The festival, which takes place near the city center on the Milford Green, includes canoe and kayak racing, classic car shows and live music performances. Big names like the Marshall Tucker Band and Soul Asylum have taken the stage at this popular community festival.
Each year, the Walnut Beach Association puts on a free summer concert series from July to September. For over a decade, the association has highlighted regional bands and artists on the Devon Rotary Pavilion overlooking the sound.
The Milford Arts Council is a nonprofit that hosts theater shows and art exhibits in the town’s train station, which has been converted into a performing arts venue.
Dining downtown and Connecticut Post Mall
Downtown Milford has a handful of local restaurants; Stonebridge Restaurant has fried seafood and piled-high sandwiches that patrons enjoy on the spacious patio, and Archie Moore’s Bar and Restaurant has a full bar and favorites like wings and burgers. Nearby, the Connecticut Post Mall has over 130 shops and restaurants, including American Eagle Outfitters, Express and P.F. Chang’s, as well as a Regal Cinemas theater. Big box grocers such as Aldi, ShopRite and Stop & Shop are found throughout the town.
On Saturday mornings from June to October, locals visit downtown Milford’s farmers market on Main Street. Here, shoppers can support local businesses while shopping for fresh produce, baked goods, soaps, jewelry and more.
Devon residents stock up on groceries at nearby Stop & Shop.
Milford Green is a lovely park to sit and enjoy your coffee or lunch in Milford.
Home to a sprawling shopping district, Post Road North offers a mix of convenience & fun.
Dick's Sporting Goods is one of many retail options at the Connecticut Post Mall in Woodmont.
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Centuries-old Victorians and newly built homes
Single-family homes make up most of the housing market in Milford, with the median price of a single-family house hovering at $522,500. Milford’s downtown area has 19th and 20th-century homes. Century-old Victorian-style properties with 3,000 square feet can hit the market for $600,000 or higher, while modest, 1,000-square-foot farmhouses are around $300,000. Hundreds of pricier houses here feature views of the Long Island Sound; four-bedroom, recently renovated waterfront homes can go for over $2 million. “When I was a kid, people would board up their houses and leave in the winter and come back in the summer. But probably about 30 years ago, people started converting them to year-round residences,” Stillings says. Condos are scattered throughout town, with two-bedroom units usually priced between $250,000 and $450,000.
New housing developments are in the works across Milford, with Colonial Revivals and craftsman-style homes popping up along the oceanfront and on the east side of town along Plains Road and Highland Court. Newly built craftsman-style homes on private, 1-acre lots can go for $900,000. Additionally, in 2023, the Plan of Conservation and Development was approved, mapping out numerous projects to improve access to the city’s recreational areas and upgrade its infrastructure. The plan includes steps to preserve coastal lands, along with their endangered or threatened habitats and wildlife. It also details a pedestrian walkway that will connect all city parks and plans to develop more affordable housing.
For a country feel come to Parkway Wheelers Farm Road.
Beautiful beach homes with great views of the Long Island Sound are common in Woodmont.
Devon is a small charming community near the Long Island Sound in Connecticut.
Devon is popular for quaint Cape Cod homes lining the streets.
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Milford School District earns high marks
One draw for families is the highly rated Milford School District, which earns an A-minus rating from Niche. The district has eight elementary schools, three middle schools, two traditional high schools and one alternative high school. All of these public schools earn Bs or above from Niche. Both Joseph A. Foran High School and Jonathan Law High earn A-minus ratings. Additionally, Milford is home to Platt Technical High School, serving around 800 local students from 18 surrounding towns. Here, students can earn school credit while working outside the classroom through work-based learning programs.
Academy of Our Lady of Mercy is an A-plus-rated, girls-only private school a few blocks northwest of downtown. This faith-based school serves around 350 high schoolers and has a student-to-teacher ratio of 9-to-1.
Welcome to the Harborside Middle School at 175 High St, Milford, CT 06460.
Welcome to the Joseph A. Foran High School at 80 Foran Rd, Milford, CT 06460.
The Jonathan Law High School prepares Devon students for college.
Discover the Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, Lauralton Hall at 00 High St, Milford, CT 06460.
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Taking the train or driving to New Haven and New York City
Interstate 95 goes through the town and takes drivers northeast to New Haven or southwest to New York City. Alternatively, riders can get on the Metro-North Railroad's New Haven Line into New York or New Haven. A metro trip to Manhattan takes about 90 minutes from Milford station. Additionally, the Milford Transit District has four bus routes with stops throughout the town. Tweed New Haven Airport is 13 miles northeast and LaGuardia Airport is 63 miles southwest. Bridgeport Hospital has a campus in Milford, and Yale New Haven Hospital is 12 miles away. Yale University and its hospital system is a major area employer in New Haven, while other Milford workers commute into New York City or Stamford.
The Milford Police Department reported a slight increase in property and violent crimes from 2022 to 2023. From 2020 to 2024, Milford's violent crime rate was consistently below the rates for Connecticut and the U.S., while its property crime rate was typically slightly above the Connecticut and U.S. rates.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
