DonVito5086 OP t1_je0btme wrote on March 28, 2023 at 2:32 PM

Reply to comment by stengbeng in Fairfield county/Milford by DonVito5086

So Norwalk is interesting to me, I just got to visit there a couple weeks ago. Definitely more of a city feel, sort of reminded me of where I used to live in Baltimore but I did enjoy it. Only issue I've seen based on my research is the schools aren't rated very high, I've seen some areas the crime is pretty high(might be a reason I'm unaware of), but I would think the houses would be less in that area but they aren't. On the surface seems like much less bang for your buck is all.

curbthemeplays t1_je3tsqt wrote on March 29, 2023 at 5:26 AM

Your assessment is correct. Great if you don’t have kids or can afford private school $$$. If you don’t have to commute to NYC, there’s no good reason to choose it over Milford.

stengbeng t1_je0ddti wrote on March 28, 2023 at 2:42 PM

Like any mid-sized city Norwalk is not without its crime, however it's generally very very localized and not a pervasive problem whatsoever. I've lived here almost my entire life and have always felt very safe.

My wife and I are both products of Norwalk public schools and we turned out just fine- both successful professionals with advanced degrees. The schools may not be as great as surrounding affluent towns like Darien/New Canaan/Wilton/Westport, but compared to other schools in the state they are about average, and on the national scale they are above-average.

Depending on where you are in the city, Norwalk can feel very urban/city-like, or very woodsy/suburban and even rural. It's a large city geographically so there is plenty to do, and each section of town has its own distinct feel to it.

Feel free to PM me with any specific questions, always happy to fill people in on Norwalk and how great it is. Definitely a great place to raise a family.

DonVito5086 OP t1_je0dnx0 wrote on March 28, 2023 at 2:44 PM

I appreciate this and will definitely be looking into Norwalk more. Are there any areas of Norwalk you would suggest?

stengbeng t1_je0g85l wrote on March 28, 2023 at 3:01 PM

Inventory is still super low and the Norwalk real estate market is still hyper-competitive. I'd be more inclined to advise you against certain areas, but generally speaking if you're looking at single-family homes then most of the neighborhoods where those are located are generally safe. The socioeconomic dynamic in Norwalk is really geographically-dependent, sometimes even down to a block or two. SoNo and Wall Street are perfectly safe areas to visit for dining/entertainment, but I'd avoid any homes within those vacinities.

Cranbury, Silvermine, and West Norwalk are generally the safest but most expensive. Rowayton is technically a part of Norwalk but might as well be its own town, it's basically just an extension of the wealth/exclusivity you see just across Five Mile River in Darien. East Norwalk is really nice, but overpriced due to proximity to the water and the houses are all a bit smooshed together for my own liking. The neighborhoods off of Westport Ave., East Ave., West Rocks Road, and Newtown Ave/Chestnut Hill Rd. are all really great options for situation, but good luck finding anything right now haha.

Sunsailor76 t1_je10zvj wrote on March 28, 2023 at 5:14 PM

Rowayton

External_Trick4479 t1_je0g5ol wrote on March 28, 2023 at 3:01 PM

Norwalk gets a bit of a bad rap because it's constantly compared to school districts like Westport & New Canaan, which have some of the best schools in the country. However, Norwalk is still above average nationally. If you want a city feel, it's a great place. If you can swing it, Westport, Wilton, Weston are also fantastic and have great communities and an amazing place for young kids to grow up. So many young parents, too.