2021 Best Places to Live in Fairfield County

Westport

• Suburb in Connecticut
• Rating 4.18 out of 5  45 reviews

Current Resident: The schools are excellent! Staples High School is a great school and colleges know that! This is the reason I moved here and it was worth it. The beach is very pretty, although after 13 years I’m not as excited by it! There is a mix of people... some nice and some spoiled/arrogant, so find your people. The town is safe, people leave their doors unlocked (although I never would). Main Street is fun and the restaurants are pretty good. Overall, I moved here for the kids and it was worth it. Now that I’m getting older, I’m ready to live in a place that’s warm all year!
Read 45 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 28,016 Population

Southport

• Suburb in Connecticut
• Rating 3.5 out of 5  2 reviews

Current Resident: I moved from the Lake Hills section of Fairfield to Southport about 13 years ago, and I love it here! There is a great sense of community and it feels like you are back in time when you enter the Southport Historic District. Everything is walking or biking distance away, which is a great plus. The restaurant scene is very nice with the Artisan and the Gray Goose representing the posh side of Southport. Southport cares a lot about the environment and nature, with Southport Park being a great little destination, and there is an ecological restoration taking place east of Pease Ave, South of Mill Hill Terrace, and north of I-95.
Read 2 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 1,661 Population

Old Greenwich

• Suburb in Connecticut
• Rating 4.56 out of 5  9 reviews

Current Resident: Old Greenwich is an incredible community — the absolute best in Connecticut. Safe, picturesque with highly regarded schools, Old Greenwich is an absolute treasure for those raising a family. There is a real sense of community making it town like no other. 40 minutes to Manhattan makes this town easily accessible to the world’s financial district and some of the most prestigious multinational business organizations. Real estate in town tends to range from $1.5M to around $8M making it a very expensive place to live, however, the personal and family-oriented benefits entirely outweigh the costs.

Simply put: Old Greenwich is a community worth experiencing!
Read 9 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 6,844 Population

Ridgefield

• Town in Connecticut
• Rating 4.01 out of 5  121 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived all over the world and there is nowhere I’d rather be than Ridgefield, CT! It is by far my favorite place to live. It is one of the safest towns in the country and the people are so welcoming and friendly. There is so much to do in the town-too many things to list, but there are 4 performing art centers with NYC quality shows. There is a vibrant arts scene, lots of fabulous restaurants, theatre, stores, coffee shops, dancing and night life. There are endless outdoor activities like horseback riding, golf, hiking, swimming and cycling. The lifestyle/quality of life in Ridgefield is amazing. We are able to live in a place with a picture perfect Main Street, nice people, safety and lots to do, while enjoying the natural beauty of parks, nature preserves, sanctuaries, lakes, ponds, streams and more. Thank you Ridgefield!
Read 121 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 25,042 Population

Greenwich

• Suburb in Connecticut
• Rating 4.03 out of 5  87 reviews

Current Resident: Great town, checks almost all of the boxes when considering a place to live! The Public Schools are arguably the biggest attraction for the town, they are top in the country, all the way from the elementary schools to the high schools.
Read 87 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 62,587 Population

Fairfield

• Suburb in Connecticut
• Rating 4.03 out of 5  115 reviews

Current Resident: Fairfield is a beautiful and fun town with many things to offer. It's much larger than you would expect just looking at it on a map. There are over 100 restaurants that serve amazing food and drinks. Downtown Fairfield is the place to be when the weather gets warm. The town's residents gather for outdoor concerts and to stroll along the busy streets of Post Road. I've lived in Fairfield for 15 years now and there are still many places in town I have yet to visit. Anything I could ever need is just a few minutes away by car on Black Rock Turnpike such as grocery stores, banks, restaurants, fitness places, gas stations, schools, clothing stores, etc. Fairfield has a terrific school system with amazing teachers who are dedicated to educating their students and preparing them for the real world. Fairfield is a safe town to live in thanks to our front-line workers such as police officers, EMTs, and Firefighters. The only downsides to living in Fairfield are the housing prices and traffic.
Read 115 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 61,740 Population

Riverside

• Suburb in Connecticut
• Rating 4 out of 5  6 reviews

Parent: My parents and my husband's parents were also born in the town of Greenwich so we have deep roots here. We have family throughout the town and I love raising my kids near their cousins and grandparents. We enjoy what the town has to offer in the way of sports and leisure activities. The downside is that it is expensive to live here and many people have lots of money.
Read 6 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 8,604 Population

Cos Cob

• Suburb in Connecticut
• Rating 4 out of 5  2 reviews

Current Resident: It has a very neighborhood feel which is really nice and welcoming to new, young families. There is a lot of turnover with houses happening now and, if that continues, I think it will become five stars.
Read 2 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 6,990 Population

Wilton

• Suburb in Connecticut
• Rating 4.15 out of 5  40 reviews

Current Resident: As a resident of the town of Wilton, I want to start off by saying I have advanced through Wilton's school system and have received a top tier education (top 10 in Connecticut). There are roughly 270-350 kids in each grade, with a great teacher-pupil ratio. We also have one of the best Special Needs programs in Connecticut, which helps students conquer their learning disability. Wilton is extremely safe, you can see young kids attending movies, grabbing a snack at Starbucks, or just walking around our beautifully manicured town. Wilton has many highly accredited restaurants that people from other towns (and states!) travel for. Wilton is extremely close to amazing cities like Norwalk, Stamford, and NYC. Living in a densely populated area (top 4 in the country), you really don't feel that here. It truly is its own paradise. You can drive 3 hours north for skiing, or drive to the beaches of the Hamptons or Cape Cod for a weekend trip. Wilton can be whatever you want it to be!
Read 40 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 18,463 Population

New Canaan

• Suburb in Connecticut
• Rating 4.16 out of 5  43 reviews

Current Resident: New Canaan is an amazing community driven town with things to do for everyone! The volunteer opportunities are boundless and offer ways for everyone to get involved and make everyone feel they can be a part of an amazing community. There are many family focused, elderly focused, new resident focused, child & teen focused activities and one doesn't have to look far to become involved. The schools are top notch; the public places are beautifully maintained; the library & YMCA are top notch, town parks & pool are beautiful; there are art exhibits, parades, gatherings, pop up parks, broadway like shows at the high school, amazing restaurants and shops in the walkable downtown district and truly something for everyone!
Read 43 Reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• 20,276 Population

Darien

• Suburb in Connecticut
• Rating 4.16 out of 5  38 reviews

Current Resident: Darien has always felt like a pretty safe town. It is competitive but schooling is excellent. Our classes are practically college level courses. We definitely experience all four seasons, but snow not so much as you would expect.
Overall I’m grateful to have grown up in this town.
Read 38 Reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• 21,742 Population

Newfield

• Neighborhood in Stamford, CT
• Rating 3.71 out of 5  48 reviews

Niche User: The environment is great for young professionals with a great downtown environment, lots of restaurants and activities, access to the train and NYC, and Stamford one of the safest cities in America. Many people wish the schools were better or would get better. As young people start having kids they have to move away because the school system is on the low-end. An underlying issue is the cost of living in Fairfield County is outrageous with average monthly rents in Stamford at $2,700 for 2015.
Read 48 Reviews

• grade A

• grade B

• 24,440 Population

Weston

• Suburb in Connecticut
• Rating 4 out of 5  24 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• 10,287 Population

Easton

• Suburb in Connecticut
• Rating 3.48 out of 5  21 reviews

Current Resident: This is a great community for families in general with a lot of opportunities for recreation and community involvement. With great schools, students are also provided with opportunities for growth. The scenery is beautiful and it's all too easy to fall into your own little world.
Read 21 Reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• 7,543 Population

Redding

• Town in Connecticut
• Rating 4.31 out of 5  32 reviews

Current Resident: Love the school system! The community is relaxed. Residents place a high value on the natural environment. You can hike for 60 miles on open space and be to the best malls and dining within 15 minutes. 60 minutes door to door drive to mid-town, or you can take the train from Redding station going direct to grand central in peak hours. Takes a little longer but I read a book, or the morning paper, or get ahead on my email. So worth it!
Read 32 Reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• 9,176 Population

Glenville

• Suburb in Connecticut
• Rating 4.67 out of 5  3 reviews

Current Resident: Best part of Greenwich. Hands down!! Good school. Beautiful. Nice, not snobby people. Great restaurants. Walkable.
Read 3 Reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• 2,538 Population

Trumbull

• Suburb in Connecticut
• Rating 3.85 out of 5  96 reviews

Current Resident: I've lived in Trumbull since I was born, I've attended public schools here. I am very comfortable and feel safe here. My friends and I meet up in the many parks that this town has to offer. We enjoy biking around town and hiking through the trails. There are a few lakes, I belong to a private one, and we can go kayaking, fishing...There is also 2 town outdoor pools and an indoor pool. We also have the Trumbull Mall we could go to, and we have a theatre with 16 screens! I would recommend this town to others, especially people with children.
Read 96 Reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• 35,976 Population

Belltown

• Neighborhood in Stamford, CT
• Rating 3.5 out of 5  8 reviews

Niche User: I absolutely love this area. There is always something going on and events happening. It is the best of both worlds because theres urban and rural areas that give the city life effect as well as the spacious privacy others look for. I would definitely live here again and plan to because it is full of different opportunities, constant improvements and people filled with life all about! The atmosphere and vibe that this area gives off is fun and happy, there's always something to do whether it is going to explore nature or going shopping in stores.
Read 8 Reviews

• grade A

• grade B

• 14,309 Population

Newtown

• Town in Connecticut
• Rating 3.99 out of 5  115 reviews

Current Resident: I love almost everything about Newtown. I have had very pleasant experiences with the schools, and I have thoroughly enjoyed participating in some of the extracurricular activities, such as the Newtown High School Marching Band, where we won a US Bands State Championship and a US Bands National Championship in 2017. The community itself is very welcoming and friendly, and I have loved living here for my entire life!
Read 115 Reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• 27,822 Population

Westover

• Neighborhood in Stamford, CT
• Rating 3.5 out of 5  26 reviews

Niche User: Its a great town to live in very clean, has enough room for everyone, schools provide kids what they need.
Read 26 Reviews

• grade A

• grade B

• 18,971 Population

South End

• Neighborhood in Stamford, CT

• grade A

• grade B

• 7,868 Population

Brookfield

• Town in Connecticut
• Rating 3.79 out of 5  82 reviews

Current Resident: Brookfield is a quaint town in which I have lived for more than 13 years. I have done my K-12 education here, and with the high school programs, I have attended, I am prepared to move onto college in the year 2020. Brookfield is a very safe town, no crimes of violence. Everyone is amiable, and there is a great community feel. There are plenty of great restaurants, stores, a family-friendly park. Brookfield may not have a movie theatre or mall but Danbury, the neighboring town, does and its a short drive to both locations. Brookfield also has access to two large lakes which are bound to keep you cool and having fun all summer long!
Read 82 Reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• 17,016 Population

Byram

• Suburb in Connecticut
• Rating 4 out of 5  2 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A+

• 4,560 Population

Bethel

• Town in Connecticut
• Rating 4.15 out of 5  41 reviews

Current Resident: Great town, colonial, very clean wonderful people. My favorite spots are j Lawrence and la zingara which are on main street!
Read 41 Reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A minus

• 19,663 Population

Pemberwick

• Suburb in Connecticut
• Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Former Resident: I recently moved to Pemberwick about 8 moths ago and my experience here has been very good. The neighbors are very friendly and there is a big field / park where a lot of parents go to play with their kids. Overall Pemberwick is a very safe are and calm.
Read 1 Review

• grade A minus

• grade A+

• 4,083 Population