What a big step - leaving Brooklyn for the 'burbs!
We used to live in Norwalk but moved away two years ago when DH was accepted to a grad program. We lived in Philly before moving to Norwalk and the biggest adjustment to Norwalk for me was driving to get almost anywhere.
When we lived there, Norwalk and Stamford were the least expensive cities/towns within the area I'd consider commutable to NYC. (I would personally live no farther east than Westport). DH commuted into Manhattan via Metro North. I would highly recommend looking into commuting by train if your DH doesn't need a car at work. The traffic traveling out of NY into CT in the evening bottlenecks in Stamford then again around exit 14 in Norwalk. On the downside, if you consider the train as an option, look into the length of the list for parking permits for the train stations - they told DH he might have to wait for over a year! Perhaps this has improved.
Most of the houses in the surrounding towns are priced much higher than in Norwalk, however the schools in those nearby towns (Wilton, Westport, New Canaan) are regarded as excellent. My SIL lived with us for a year and attended Norwalk High for her "senior year" of HS (She had graduated HS in Venezuela and came to learn English by living with us/going to HS). From my limited exposure to the school, I thought it was ok, but not outstanding. A friend's children attends public school in Stamford and from talking with her and a former coworker who volunteered in Stamford PS as a mentor, I think some of Stamford's schools are very good while others are considered so-so. Another friend of mine was very pleased with the Montessori school her 2 kids attended near the Norwalk/Wilton line. I didn't look into schools when we moved to Norwalk because I knew we'd be there short-term and DS was just turning 2 when we moved there.
DS loved to play at Calf Pasture beach. There's a "sunken ship" play structure there and let's not forget water, sand and rocks
. Cranbury Park has some nice trails to walk and is very dog-friendly. If you venture out onto 95, Sherwood Island State Park is not too far away either.
Good luck in your search for a 'burb!
Marsh
We used to live in Norwalk but moved away two years ago when DH was accepted to a grad program. We lived in Philly before moving to Norwalk and the biggest adjustment to Norwalk for me was driving to get almost anywhere.
When we lived there, Norwalk and Stamford were the least expensive cities/towns within the area I'd consider commutable to NYC. (I would personally live no farther east than Westport). DH commuted into Manhattan via Metro North. I would highly recommend looking into commuting by train if your DH doesn't need a car at work. The traffic traveling out of NY into CT in the evening bottlenecks in Stamford then again around exit 14 in Norwalk. On the downside, if you consider the train as an option, look into the length of the list for parking permits for the train stations - they told DH he might have to wait for over a year! Perhaps this has improved.
Most of the houses in the surrounding towns are priced much higher than in Norwalk, however the schools in those nearby towns (Wilton, Westport, New Canaan) are regarded as excellent. My SIL lived with us for a year and attended Norwalk High for her "senior year" of HS (She had graduated HS in Venezuela and came to learn English by living with us/going to HS). From my limited exposure to the school, I thought it was ok, but not outstanding. A friend's children attends public school in Stamford and from talking with her and a former coworker who volunteered in Stamford PS as a mentor, I think some of Stamford's schools are very good while others are considered so-so. Another friend of mine was very pleased with the Montessori school her 2 kids attended near the Norwalk/Wilton line. I didn't look into schools when we moved to Norwalk because I knew we'd be there short-term and DS was just turning 2 when we moved there.
DS loved to play at Calf Pasture beach. There's a "sunken ship" play structure there and let's not forget water, sand and rocks
. Cranbury Park has some nice trails to walk and is very dog-friendly. If you venture out onto 95, Sherwood Island State Park is not too far away either.Good luck in your search for a 'burb!
Marsh
