Why Greenwich Connecticut Continues to be a Highly Desirable Place to Call Home
Eighteen months after the pandemic was identified, countless people around the world left densely populated cities, like New York, and moved to more open spaces and rural communities. Greenwich, Connecticut is one of those areas which benefited, and continues to appreciate in real estate value, as a result of global migration.
A town of about 65,000 residents, it is located on the southwest corner of Fairfield County on the Gold Coast of the state and is composed of numerous neighborhoods ranging from back-country estates with more than ten acres per property to in-town parcels of 7,000 SF and multi-family zoning. Properties close to downtown are serviced by public utilities while the rest rely on septic systems and well water.
Greenwich is less than a one-hour train or car ride to midtown Manhattan. Composed of 60 square miles, 32 of those are shorelines with four beaches. It’s the first community in Connecticut as you leave Westchester County, New York, which has considerably higher property and mansion taxes.
With over 4,000 acres of parks, beaches, riding trails, conservation land, and nature preserves, it’s no wonder people have flocked here for a respite of fresh air and distance from neighbors.
Numerous reasons attract newcomers to Greenwich.
Low property taxes — compared to neighboring Westchester County and the city of Stamford where real estate taxes can be two to three times higher.
Excellent public and private schools — currently there are 11 elementary, 3 middle, and one public high school. The private sector includes Brunswick School, Greenwich Academy, Greenwich Country Day, Eagle Hill, Whitby, The Mead School, Sacred Heart, Carmel Academy, and several independent preschools. All have attractive teacher-to-student ratios. Several of the upper-grade schools feed into nearby Ivy League Universities like Columbia, Yale, Princeton, and Harvard.
Shopping, restaurants, spas, and art galleries — From casual to luxury styles of dressing, there is a brand for everyone’s wardrobe preference. Mediterranean cuisine can be found at L’Escale, Fat Poodle, Osteria, and several eateries along Greenwich Avenue. Japanese and Asian restaurants like Miku, Bambou, Kira, Asiana, Abis, Tengda, Kissaki, Hinoki, and others abound. If you enjoy spas, the Greenwich Delamar Hotel and the J-House offer various treatments.
Luxury Brands — Tiffany’s, Saks, Betteridge Jewelers, Maserati, Tesla, Mercedez, Porsche call Greenwich their home.
Golf, yacht, equestrian, and other activities — from the private Stanwich Club to the public Griffith E. Harris Golf Course, Greenwich has numerous golf clubs. Belle Haven, Riverside, Old Greenwich, and Indian Harbor are where residents sail, socialize, and enjoy water sports. If you’re an equestrian, the Greenwich Riding Trails and Association is a great resource to identify paths and learn about private horse farms in the area including a Polo Club that hosts international teams throughout the summer. The Dorothy Hammil Skating Rink has been the training ground for famous skaters, including its Olympic namesake.
Equity firms and investment firms — Greenwich is the headquarters to numerous financial concerns and countless high net worth individuals, celebrities, and public figures.
Historical Places to visit — these include the Bush Holly House, the Greenwich Historical Society, the Bruce Museum, Putnam Cottage, and Greenwich Point where a plaque records, at the tip of the peninsula, the sale of Greenwich by the native Americans to the British for 18 coats.
Open areas — Greenwich Point Park, Babcock Preserve, the Greenwich Audubon Center, Montgomery Pinetum, Pomerance Park, Mianus River State Park, and others green spaces abound for hiking and appreciating nature.
Diverse population — on any given day one can hear several different languages spoken while walking down the main shopping street, Greenwich Avenue, which runs along a 1.6 mile stretch between the Post Road and the shoreline.
Airports — it doesn’t get better for air travel. The town has La Guardia, JFK, Newark, and Bradley Airports at its disposal with Westchester County Airport only 15 minutes from downtown Greenwich.
Houses of Worship — from Catholic to Protestant churches as well as temples and meeting houses, Greenwich is the home to numerous spiritual institutions.
For more information, visit the official Town of Greenwich website. If you’re considering making Greenwich your home or have a property to sell here, reach out!
