$771,098Average Value$471Average Price per Sq Ft13Homes For Sale
A dynamic shopping district and peaceful coastal spaces in Fairfield County
South Norwalk strikes a balance between vibrant city living and a peaceful waterside locale on the Long Island Sound. “You have all of South Norwalk, which has the beachy, waterfront homes, and then you have the trendy district known as SoNo,” says Anthony Parenti, a Norwalk Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway New England Properties who’s been serving the area since 1994. “Back in the 1970s, the city used federal, state and private funds to transform Washington Street into this chic, urban area.” It's now the centerpiece of the historic shopping district where buildings are decorated with rainbow-colored murals and large metal signs that spell out SONO. Trains rattle on the trestle bridge overhead, and residents walk on the red-brick sidewalks heading to local bars, lively restaurants or the SoNo Collection mall. But driving a couple of miles south puts locals in a relaxed, coastal atmosphere, where fields of seagrass sway in the salty breeze and drivers must be cautious of deer on the roads at night.
The SoNo Collection shopping mall in South Norwalk offers upscale shopping options like Sephora.
Boats sitting in the marina adjacent to Veterans Park in South Norwalk.
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An artsy, historic district with bars, eateries and shopping
Century-old buildings now occupied by a diverse combination of restaurants and small businesses line the streets in SoNo, South Norwalk’s small historic district. “It’s a fun vibe. When I moved here 20 years ago, Washington Street was all mom-and-pop shops, but now it’s wall-to-wall restaurants, so it has quite the nightlife,” says Jan Woodward, a real estate agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties. The sustainable Eco Evolution coffee shop serves seasonal lattes and pastries; it also has a local market that showcases art, home décor, jewelry and natural cleaning products. For lunch, fast-casual spots like Taj Mediterranean Mezze and Grill are popular for bowls and wraps. In the evening, restaurants dim the lights, opting for tabletop candles, lanterns and colorful neon signs. Residents share sushi rolls and cocktails at Oishi Sushi and Izakaya or order ramen and pho at Mecha Noodle Bar. Tablao Wine Bar and Restaurant is an elevated eatery where patrons enjoy Spanish wine and tapas in a modern, comfortable atmosphere.
At the corner of Washington and Water Street, Donovan’s has been a South Norwalk institution since 1889, making it the oldest known pub in Norwalk. Adorned with a mural welcoming people to Historic South Norwalk on the outside and a bar with antique wooden carvings and a stuffed moose head inside, the restaurant is popular for its clam chowder, fish and chips and wings. Close by on Water Street, SoNo Seaport Seafood is a more casual, seasonal spot for lobster rolls and oysters. “When you sit on their back deck, you can watch the drawbridge go up to let the boats through and see all the boat traffic cruising back and forth on the river,” Parenti says.
As they walk down Washington Street, shoppers browse small boutiques like Simple SoNo for home décor and apparel. But the SoNo Collection shopping mall, which opened in 2019, is the neighborhood’s retail hub. The mall’s modern floors are lined with colorful murals and art installations, and it’s filled with well-known retailers like Nordstrom, Abercrombie and Fitch, Zara, Sephora and Bloomingdale’s. There are a few bodegas throughout the neighborhood, and residents may go grocery shopping at Ctown Supermarket.
Mecha in South Norwalk is a contemporary Japanese restaurant known for its ramen dishes.
Washington Street in South Norwalk is the neighborhood hub for popular bars and grills.
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Marinas, waterfront parks and bicycle paths
As the blue-gray Norwalk River flows along the eastern border of South Norwalk and into the Long Island Sound, most recreational activities revolve around the coast. The Norwalk River Valley Trail is currently about 8 miles long but is scheduled to become a 30-mile-long trail network connecting Norwalk to Danbury. Locals often ride bikes, push strollers and walk dogs on the trail, which they may pick up near the popular Maritime Aquarium. Home to harbor seals, green sea turtles, sand tiger sharks, and other animals that occupy the Long Island Sound, the aquarium is committed to local aquatic education and ocean conservation. “When my daughters were in Girl Scouts, we’d do sleepovers at the aquarium. They really have great community outreach,” says Dee Braaten, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty who’s served the area for over 24 years. The Norwalk River Valley Trail connects residents to Oyster Shell Park, a green space built along the river where they can play disc golf, take their kids to the playground or sit and appreciate views of the harbor and watch row teams practice on the water. Rows of boat slips line the Norwalk River; boaters may join the Ischoda Yacht Club or the South Norwalk Boat Club to dock their sailboats or yachts.
Veterans Park in South Norwalk offers open green spaces for residents to enjoy the outdoors.
Members of Ischoda Yacht Club in South Norwalk enjoy direct access to the Norwalk Harbor.
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Contemporary condos and classic Cape Cods in South Norwalk
South Norwalk’s housing options range from modern condos in SoNo to shingled beach homes near the southern coast. “When they were developing SoNo, the first floor was reserved for retail and restaurants, and then the upper floors were condos,” Parenti says. Contemporary condos with exposed brick walls and high ceilings were built in the late 20th century, and a few high-rise condo complexes were added in the early 2000s. Most condos are priced between $200,000 and $500,000. Classic shingled coastal homes and Cape Cods occupy the quiet residential streets in the southern portion of the neighborhood. While most were built in the early-to-mid 1900s, many have been remodeled. Small bungalows and Cape Cods are priced between $400,000 and $600,000, but larger Capes and coastal cottages often cost between $900,000 and $1.5 million. Prices for contemporary mansions on the harbor fluctuate between $2 million and $4.5 million.
South Norwalk has many different home styles to choose from.
South Norwalk has many different home styles to choose with well kept yards.
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Seasonal festivals in SoNo
In addition to the frequent arts and cooking workshops and trivia nights hosted by SoNo’s restaurants and bars, there are larger seasonal events in the neighborhood. During the summer, locals can book a ferry tour of Sheffield Island, which includes an overview of the oyster industry and time to explore the island and see a 19th-century lighthouse. One of the area’s largest events happens in September when the annual oyster festival celebrates Norwalk’s long history as an oystering city. Carnival rides, band stages showcasing musicians and over 40 oyster vendors pack onto Veterans Park, located just east of South Norwalk. Near the end of October, Washington Street has a Halloween block party where kids jump in bounce houses and paint pumpkins. Local vendors line the streets, pet owners show off their pups’ seasonal attire in a dog costume parade, and attendees enjoy seasonal treats and live bands. During December, shoppers browse SoNo Collection’s holiday market, where they purchase artisanal goods, crafts and festive snacks as festive lighting displays twinkle around the halls and holiday music fills the air.
Brien McMahon High School offers marine science courses
Children currently take school buses out of the neighborhood for elementary school, but the new South Norwalk Elementary School, which is scheduled to open in Fall 2025, will keep kids local. For now, students can attend Rowayton School, which earns a B-plus from Niche, for kindergarten through fifth grade. They may progress to Roton Middle, which scores a B-minus, and then to Brien McMahon High School, which earns an A-minus. The high school offers a hands-on marine science learning pathway where students learn about marine biology, environmental science and maritime history.
Rowayton Elementary School is a top choice school for students located near South Norwalk.
Roton Middle School is a top choice school for students located in South Norwalk.
Brian McMahon High School in Norwalk prepares students for the next step of their education.
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Commuter trains and interstates head to New York City
At the top of Washington Street sits a restored switch tower, originally built in 1896 to manage switches at the junction between the Danbury Branch and New Haven Line. Today, it’s been restored into the SoNo Switch Tower Museum, but passenger trains still frequently rumble by on the viaduct that carves through South Norwalk. “I think people have it in their heads that they don’t want to be more than an hour train-ride away from the city,” Parenti says. “And from South Norwalk, it’s usually a little over an hour to Grand Central.” The New Haven line on the Metro-North Railroad departs from South Norwalk’s train station every 30 minutes; the train stops in nearby cities like Stamford and Darien before arriving in Manhattan. The New Haven rail line also heads northeast to New Haven in about an hour. The SoNo district is walkable, but residents living in South Norwalk’s single-family houses rely on cars to drive to restaurants and other towns. Drivers can turn onto Interstate 95 to drive 34 miles northeast to New Haven and 48 miles southwest to Manhattan. When the highway is congested, many will use the Merritt Parkway to travel throughout Fairfield County.
According to RiskFactor, the coastal neighborhood carries flood risks, and some properties closer to the water have an extreme risk of flooding. In 2023, the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation published its plan to develop a resilient corridor in South Norwalk, which would help mitigate flood risk and help vulnerable parts of the community safely evacuate in the case of a flood.
South Norwalk Train Station is always busy and has ample parking.
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.
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Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Federico Martinez,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Oystershell Park
Disc Golf
Trails
Playground
Mathews Park
Tennis
Playground
Parking Lot
Veteran's Memorial Park
Flax Hill Park
Woodward Avenue Park
Basketball
Tennis
Pickleball
Springwood Park
Basketball
Tennis
Transit
Airport
Westchester County
37 min drive
Train
South Norwalk Station
Bus
68 Water St. & Elizabeth
Bus
345 Ely Ave & Swank Inc.
Bus
Dock
Bus
Burritt & Water Nb
Bus
284 Ely Ave. & Testa Pl.
Bus
13 South Main St. & Washington
Bus
24 Lexington Ave.
South Norwalk Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in South Norwalk, Norwalk sell after 53 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in South Norwalk, Norwalk over the last 12 months is $435,000, up 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Recently updated with significant enhancements, this property offers main floor living featuring a new modern kitchen equipped with granite countertops, appliances, cabinets, and an island with seating. The dining area, Living room with fireplace, provides access to a full bathroom, two bedrooms, a sunroom, and a deck overlooking the private backyard. Secluded from the main level, the property
JUST REDUCED!! A rare opportunity for you to have this home built on the "The Fairfield County Coast". This Norwalk waterfront community is ready for your new dream home to be completed. You will fall in love with an architectural design featuring 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms with multiple decks to enjoy unobstructed views of the natural estuary surroundings and Long Island Sound. The home's main
Welcome to this spacious 3-bedroom condo in the heart of Sono Gardens, a gated condominium community situated in the heart of the South Norwalk area -just steps from the train station! Perfect for commuters, this stylish corner unit features an open layout, an abundance of natural light, and a designated backyard. Enjoy vibrant SoNo living with top restaurants, shops, and the waterfront just
Welcome to this beautifully maintained 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath Colonial home located in the desirable waterfront Harbor Shores community, offering private water access and a prime location near Historic SONO, trains and major highways. Step inside to discover the pristine, well maintained home with gleaming hardwood floors throughout and a spacious layout perfect for comfortable living and
Enjoy the SONO lifestyle in this oversized 1-bedroom right in the heart of downtown! Just steps from the Maritime Aquarium, IMAX Theater, vibrant bars and restaurants, and the new SoNo Collection mall. Enjoy easy access to the South Norwalk train station and just a short drive to Norwalk's beautiful beaches. Inside, the unit offers an updated kitchen with stainless steel appliances, a stylish
Welcome to SONO living. Very convenient to shops, restaurants, supermarket, movie theater, new mall, Norwalk River views, Veteran's memorial park marina & many other attractions in South Norwalk Downtown Area. Bright & sunny corner unit with one bedroom, large bathroom, brick walls, exposed beams, open floor plan, new Chef kitchen with stainless steel appliances & Quartz counter tops. No Pets
Its a moment of convergence. That spark of realization that everything is falling into place. These moments happen in our culture, they happen to each of us individually, and they happen to places, too. In Norwalk, right now is one of those moments. A new, forward-thinking urban mindset is at play, rooted deep in rich history. And it all comes together in one spot at Sono Central.This is Norwalks
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Federico Martinez,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
10,956
Median Age
36
Population Density
11 ppl/acre
Population under 18
25.4%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
12.1%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$78,445
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$106,188
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
86.7%
College Graduates
38.9%
On par with the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
13.1%
% Population in Labor Force
78.8%
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
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
45/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
45/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
43/ 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.
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.
