A diverse, commuter-friendly city in Fairfield County
Textile manufacturers and oyster harvesters thrived in the coastal Connecticut city of Norwalk in the 19th and 20th centuries, but those industries waned in the mid-1900s. “As the industry died off, the city reinvented itself,” says Anthony Parenti, a Norwalk Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway New England Properties who’s been serving the area since 1994. Today, major companies like Booking Holdings, Xerox, Frontier Communications, EMCOR, Pepperidge Farm and Stew Leonard’s are all headquartered in Norwalk. These are prominent employers locally, but Norwalk is also known as a commuting city, where residents frequently board trains headed for Manhattan. The coastal city has about 92,000 residents, creating a more laid-back atmosphere where residents can still access dynamic, walkable areas.
Stew Leonard's is a hot commodity for residents of Cranbury.
Pepperidge Farm is also located in Norwalk.
Catch the train from Woods Pond and head to New York City from the Norwalk Train Station.
Silvermine is also near a bustling professional park that employees residents near and far.
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Dynamic shopping districts and public services
Downtown Norwalk has some restaurants, but the riverside neighborhood of South Norwalk has more options. “Before South Norwalk and Norwalk were consolidated in the early 1900s, the waterfront district was South Norwalk’s downtown area,” Parenti says. Since renovations in the 1970s, the historic commercial district known as SoNo has been one of the most popular gathering points in the city, where long-established eateries, trendy restaurants and dimly lit bars line the streets. Pubs like Donovan’s serve clam chowder and American fare, and patrons order tacos and margaritas from El Segundo or fresh rolls from Oishi Sushi & Izakaya. Residents head to coastal communities like Rowayton or East Norwalk for fresh, local seafood. “Rowayton Seafood is top-of-the-line. You need a reservation; you can’t just show up, especially in the summertime,” says Dee Braaten, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty who’s served the area for over 24 years. A modern shopping mall with art installations and popular retailers was added to Norwalk in 2019; the SoNo Collection mall hosts Nordstrom, Zara, Sephora and Bloomingdale’s. Convenient grocery store options, including supermarkets like Stew Leonard’s, ShopRite and Stop & Shop, can be found throughout Norwalk.
Norwalk Hospital, a centrally located medical center that’s part of the Nuvance Health system, serves the city. The hospital has a level II trauma center.
Mr. Frosty's in East Norwalk is a local hotspot for ice cream and other sweets.
Stop & Shop is a go-to grocery store for families and individuals in Downtown Norwalk.
Donovan's in the downton SoNo area of Brookside has been a corner of the community since 1889.
Dry Dock Bar and Grille in Cranbury offers tasty lunch and dinner with great happy hour options.
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Beaches, marinas and golf courses
Norwalk’s outdoor spaces range from sandy beaches to large, green lawns with walking trails and sports courts. Many public beaches and parks require a pass to park or enter; residents whose vehicles are registered in Norwalk may park for free. Calf Pasture Beach, in East Norwalk, is the largest and most popular beach. “Most recreation revolves around the Long Island Sound,” Parenti says. “Calf Pasture has canoes and rowboats to rent by the hour, and a lot of people go windsurfing.” The beach has three-quarters of a mile of coastline, as well as a playground, splash pad and skate park. Joggers and bikers pick up the Norwalk River Valley Trail near Oyster Shell Park, where locals can play disc golf or take their kids to the playground. Veteran’s Memorial Park has baseball diamonds, a boat launch and a public marina where boaters dock their watercraft. Golfers can play 18 holes at the public Oak Hills Park Golf Course or opt to join Silvermine Golf Club or Shorehaven Golf Club, both private clubs. Norwalk’s coast is dotted with yacht clubs and marinas, allowing boaters to easily sail out onto the Long Island Sound.
Calf Pasture Beach in East Norwalk has a wonderful splash pad for summer fun.
Rowayton locals spend a lot of time on their boats fishing or simply enjoying the water.
Rowayton's Bayley Beach, offers beautiful resort-like benefits.
The Shorehaven Golf Club in East Norwalk is a private paradise for local Arnold Palmers.
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Buses, commuter trains and interstate access
There are some walkable streets in the more densely packed areas of the city, but most residents are car-dependent. Norwalk Transit operates bus routes throughout the city. “At least one person in a household is usually commuting to New York City, at least some of the time,” Braaten says. There are two train stations with commuter parking lots, in East Norwalk and in South Norwalk, where residents board Metro-North Railroad’s New Haven line. She says the trip from Norwalk to Grand Central Terminal takes between 50 and 80 minutes. The highly-used infrastructure is consistently updated; the East Norwalk station closed for three weeks of renovations in 2024, and a new railroad bridge extending over the Norwalk River is scheduled to be completed in 2029. Interstate 95 runs through Norwalk, taking drivers about 45 miles southwest to Manhattan or 34 miles northeast to New Haven. For longer trips, LaGuardia Airport is the closest international airport, located about 40 miles away.
Condos, Colonial Revivals and coastal properties
Properties range from condos in restored buildings to classic Colonial Revivals in quiet neighborhoods to coastal estates. “Norwalk is unique because there’s a blend of urban centers, suburban neighborhoods and waterfront communities,” Parenti says. He adds that the older parts of town in South Norwalk have narrower streets and smaller lots, and suburban neighborhoods like Silvermine and Cranbury were added later, making them more spacious but less storied. Norwalk even has an affluent coastal village that many buyers consider as an alternative to Greenwich—Rowayton has sprawling Colonial Revivals and shingled waterfront properties that are usually priced between $1 million and $4 million.
However, Rowayton represents the higher-end market in Norwalk. The median home listing price in Norwalk is $620,000, making it higher than the state median of $460,000 and the national median of $430,000. Generally, condos are priced between $200,000 and $600,000, depending on size and renovations. The Colonial Revivals, Cape Cods, ranches and bi-level houses that populate Norwalk’s inland suburbs usually cost between $400,000 and $1 million. Norwalk’s market moved quickly in 2020 as New Yorkers moved out of the city during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, seeking the space and laidback energy that Fairfield County areas like Norwalk offered. Braaten says that the market has slowed down some, but it's still common for houses to get multiple offers in 2024.
Rowayton has many areas with elaborate homes ny the water to choose from.
Minutes from Woods Pond is the Long Island Sound where you can find waterside condos.
Some northern streets in West Norwalk provide larger homes and properties.
A larger home in West Norwalk with a two-car garage shines bright in the morning sun.
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Norwalk Public Schools earns a B-plus
Students attend the Norwalk Public School District, which has an overall B-plus rating from Niche. The district serves almost 12,000 students with 13 elementary schools, four middle schools and four high schools. The largest high school, Brien McMahon High, offers a global studies magnet program and an International Baccalaureate diploma program. There’s also a branch of CT State Community College in Norwalk, which serves a population of about 3,400 undergraduate students with over 90 degree and certificate programs.
Come and dive into a new field of study at the Norwalk Community College in West Norwalk.
Students are proud to call Brien Mcmahon High School near South Norwalk their school.
Silvermine students graduate from Norwalk High School.
Ponus Ridge Middle School in Norwalk has easy access for students from Broad River.
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Museums, festivals and galleries in Norwalk
Norwalk has a diverse entertainment scene showcased by cultural and seasonal festivals, several museums, an aquarium, and a historic concert venue. One of Norwalk’s largest annual events is the oyster festival at Veteran’s Memorial Park, which features live music and over 40 local oyster vendors. Year-round, kids explore the exhibits at Stepping Stones Museum for Children, and residents may attend events or take a guided tour of the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum, a 19th-century Second Empire estate. Located in a former church building, the Norwalk Art Space non-profit organization offers free art and music classes to teenagers and rotating art exhibits. Locals learn about native aquatic life at the Norwalk Maritime Aquarium or attend concerts at the District Music Hall.
A peaceful afternoon catching up with neighbors and friends during Rowayton Fall Fest.
Freese Park is a small park with a big atmosphere during Open Jam on Tuesday nights.
Distric Music Hall is a cultural gem that blends historic charm with contemporary entertainment.
ADK House is a sanctuary where young minds explore and local artists thrive.
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Flood mitigation, rising crime rates
Norwalk experiences all four seasons, including warm summers and cold, often snowy winters. “Flooding can be a concern since Norwalk has the river and coastal areas,” Parenti says. “But the last huge flood was in 1955, after a couple of big storms.” However, areas near the Norwalk River tend to flood after heavy rain. With the Resilient South Norwalk project, Norwalk is developing a plan to create flooding-resistant corridors and mitigation strategies in vulnerable parts of the city.
The crime rate in Norwalk was 41.4 per 1,000 residents in 2022, with 882 violent crimes and 2,798 property crimes reported. This reflects an increase in violent crimes, as 825 were reported in 2021, and a significant increase in property crimes, as 1,175 were reported in 2021.
Hi, I’m Danielle Valenti, a dedicated full-time Real Estate Advisor with 9 years of experience helping Connecticut home sellers and buyers navigate the real estate market across Fairfield County and beyond. My passion for my career is fueled by my love for helping people achieve their goals.
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