Downtown Norwalk
Suburban Neighborhood in Norwalk, Connecticut
Fairfield County 06850, 06851
Condos, Cape Cods and Colonial Revivals on gridded streets
Downtown Norwalk’s central location and increasing population keeps the market moving quickly. “We got a lot of buyers when New Yorkers were fleeing the city during Covid,” says Dee Braaten, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty who’s served the area for over 24 years. “The homes are cheaper than other spots in Fairfield County, and Norwalk’s shopping districts keep taxes lower.” The neighborhood has condo buildings that were built throughout the 20th century; designs run the gamut between Tudor-inspired styles and contemporary shingled buildings. Condos are usually priced between $200,000 and $600,000. Single-family houses on green lawns with garden landscaping appear on gridded streets. Bungalows and Cape Cods from the early 1900s usually cost between $400,000 and $700,000, while Colonial Revivals and larger Capes from the later 1900s are within the $800,000 to $1.3 million range.
/
Walking trails, museums and playground equipment at Mathews Park
Locals lounge in the small public parks around Norwalk, including Norwalk Green, a landscaped stretch of grass with a gazebo. It's next to the town hall, which hosts events like the annual summer concert series. Mathews Park is one of the larger recreational gathering points, where residents find the 19th-century Lockwood-Mathews Mansion, a sprawling Second Empire structure originally built for a railroad financier and now a striking museum. Along with a large playground called Devon’s Place and tennis courts, Mathews Park also has the Stepping Stones Museum. The educational children’s museum has hands-on exhibits and themed presentations. From Mathews Park, cyclists and joggers may join the Norwalk River Valley Trail, a multi-use pathway that currently goes for 8 miles, though there are plans to make it a 30-mile-long network to span numerous cities across Fairfield County.In the summer, many leave the downtown area and head south to the coast, where they drive about 4 miles to popular spots like Calf Pasture Beach. “Norwalk residents can get an inexpensive beach pass at town hall, which is great because otherwise, it can be close to $50 to park,” Braaten says. “You can’t get people to stay away from Calf Pasture in the summer.” Beachgoers pack onto the sandy shores, go fishing from the pier or launch kayaks from the boat launch.
During Connecticut’s cold winters, people hang out at the Norwalk Public Library, which has a maker’s space with a 3D printer, embroidery equipment, a Cricut machine and a Virtual Reality headset. Bands often take the stage at District Music Hall, Downtown Norwalk’s historic music venue, which originally opened in 1915.
/
Digital media studies at Norwalk High
Children might begin at Marvin Elementary School and advance to Nathan Hale Middle School. Both schools earn B-minus ratings from Niche. Norwalk High School, which has a B rating, serves older students. The high school offers various learning pathways, including a digital media and communications academy, where students can study graphic design, photography and video production.
/
Free art galleries and cultural festivals in Norwalk
Downtown Norwalk has a mix of small community events and large-scale festivals. “Norwalk has a large diversity of different cultures, so a lot of the events downtown revolve around cultural celebrations,” Braaten says. The Norwalk International Culture Exchange, or NICE, is a nonprofit organization that offers educational programs year-round and hosts an annual festival in July. NICE Fest has food stands and performances from groups like Kalpulli Aztec dancers, Indigenous drummers, Thai dancers, Ecuadorian folk dancers and Irish bagpipers. In September, the St. George Greek Orthodox Church hosts the Kefi Greek Festival, where residents sample baklava and enjoy traditional dances.People may visit the Norwalk Art Space more frequently. The nonprofit organization has free galleries that highlight a diverse range of artists and creative mediums. The space’s resident and visiting artists teach free weekly art classes for preteens and teenagers, and local musicians host weekly guitar and choir lessons.
/
Commuter trains, bus stops and walkable streets in Downtown Norwalk
Downtown Norwalk’s gridded residential streets have sidewalks, which lead to the restaurants and businesses on Main Avenue. Locals may also walk to the bus stops serviced by the Norwalk Transit District; the bus transit center is also in the neighborhood. Buses operate throughout Norwalk and take commuters to the train station. “People commute all throughout Fairfield County, but a good majority of commuters are heading to New York City,” Braaten says. “They might attempt to drive for a couple of weeks, but most people will end up taking the train since it’s faster.” South Norwalk and East Norwalk have train stations with park-and-ride garages; both stations are under 2 miles from Downtown Norwalk. Metro-North Railroad’s New Haven line departs from the stations every half hour, arriving at Grand Central Terminal in about 50 to 80 minutes. Drivers also have access to two major roadways; Interstate 95 goes 10 miles southwest to Stamford and 50 miles southwest to New York City, as does the Merritt Parkway. “You really need to get to know the flow of traffic around here. Sometimes, it’ll take you 30 to 45 minutes just to get to Stamford,” Braaten says. She adds that drivers will switch between Interstate 95 and the Merritt Parkway, depending on their destination and time of day.Local restaurants and a popular mall near downtown
Downtown Norwalk is peppered with a diverse blend of local eateries, which often occupy century-old buildings. The Lime Restaurant is a health-conscious establishment serving falafel and blackened chicken wraps in a comfortable dining room decorated with blue gingham tablecloths. B.J. Ryan’s BanC House is a popular barbecue spot where diners order pulled pork and lobster rolls. Margaritas and small plates of elevated Latin dishes are popular at Alma Bistro, a contemporary Latin restaurant with a bright, organic interior. For groceries, shoppers head to regional supermarkets like City Market and Stew Leonard’s. There are a few small businesses along Main Street, but the largest retail district in the area is just south of Downtown Norwalk. South Norwalk’s The SoNo Collection shopping mall opened in 2019 and features modern lighting installations, bright murals and popular shops like Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, H&M, Aldo, Zara and Apple.
/
Written By
Amanda Boivin
Photography Contributed By
Elma Kukaj
Video By
Ruo Zheng
Was this overview helpful?
Agents Specializing in this Area
-
Jean Flynn
Jean Flynn
Responds QuicklyLuks Realty
(475) 338-3407
64 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Norwalk
$575,000 Price
-
Joseph Passero
Joseph Passero
William Raveis Real Estate
(475) 250-2413
29 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Norwalk
$800,000 Price
-
Katheryn Peralta
Katheryn Peralta
YellowBrick Real Estate LLC
(888) 534-6623
47 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Norwalk
$370,000 Price
-
Fredda Takacs
Fredda Takacs
Responds QuicklyColdwell Banker Realty
(475) 269-6854
159 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Norwalk
$200,000 Price
-
Stephanie Ellison
Stephanie Ellison
Ellison Homes Real Estate
(475) 267-0818
553 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Norwalk
$518,000 Price
-
Peter Raider
Peter Raider
Real Broker NY LLC
(914) 281-2447
87 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Norwalk
$379,000 Price
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Calf Pasture Beach
Norwalk Green
- Events
- Multi-Purpose Field
Oystershell Park
- Disc Golf
- Trails
- Playground
Mathews Park
- Tennis
- Playground
- Parking Lot
Fitch Playground
Freese Park
- Multi-Purpose Field
Eric Malmquist Baseball Diamond
- Baseball/Softball
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Downtown Norwalk | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 3 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 4 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 4 | 4 |
| Robbery | 4 | 4 |
| Burglary | 6 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 7 | 4 |
| Larceny | 7 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 5 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Downtown Norwalk Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Downtown Norwalk, Norwalk sell after 44 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Downtown Norwalk, Norwalk over the last 12 months is $500,000, up 8% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$475,000
Median Sale Price
$500,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$649,500
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$450,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$471,500
Median Change From 1st List Price
-4%
Last 12 months Home Sales
124
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
8%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$396
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
3,042
Number of Homes for Sale
13
Median Year Built
1960
Months of Supply
1.30
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,666
Below the national average
1,933
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,002
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,169
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
768
Average Studio Size Sq Ft
656
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
7,405
Open Houses
-
Saturday, Jun 1412 - 2pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
Condo Buildings
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
15,553
Median Age
40
Population Density
11 ppl/acre
Population under 18
22.2%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
16.4%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$87,484
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$115,168
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
89.8%
College Graduates
44.7%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
21.2%
% Population in Labor Force
75.3%
Above the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
53''
Average Winter Low Temperature
21°F
Average Summer High Temperature
84°F
Annual Snowfall
28''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
53
/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
72
/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
49
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Woods Pond
Rural neighborhood feel close to downtown Norwalk
Broad River
Quaint Norwalk suburb with a walkable commercial area
East Norwalk
Fun waterside town with a popular gold club and relaxing vibe.
Spring Hill
Quaint pocket Norwalk community boasts convenience and family-centric feel
Wolfpit
Diverse community with quiet residences north of downtown Norwalk
Cranbury
Stately homes and quiet streetscapes north of downtown Norwalk
Reviews
Are you familiar with the Downtown Norwalk neighborhood? to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.
Was this page helpful?