Darien, Connecticut 06820
Darien is a coastal town in Fairfield County, CT, in between Stamford and Norwalk. Darien is one of the wealthiest communities in the US. It was listed at #8 on Time’s list of “The 10 Richest Towns” in the United States in 2014. According to Time, “59.7% of households make more than $150k.”
Situated just off of I-95 between the cities of Norwalk and Stamford, the town is a bedroom community with relatively few office buildings. Most workers commute to Manhattan, and many also work in adjacent cities. Two Metro-North Railroad stations – Noroton Heights and Darien – link the town to Grand Central Terminal and the rest of the New Haven Line.
In 2016, 
Darien was ranked #2 in Niche’s Report on the Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in Connecticut
In 2015, Connecticut Magazine named Darien as #3 in their Rating the Towns Report in towns with a median home value $325,000 and up. The rating considers education, economy, crime, civic engagement and leisure.
According to Money Magazine’s 2016 Best Places to Live Report, Darien, CT has the following stats:
| DARIEN, CT | |
|---|---|
| POPULATION | 21,191 |
| PERCENT OF RESIDENTS WITH AT LEAST A BACHELOR’S DEGREE | 79.4% |
| AVERAGE COMMUTE TIME IN MINUTES | 33 |
| MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME | $185,330 |
| PROJECTED 5-YEAR JOB GROWTH | 8% |
| UNEMPLOYMENT RATE | 5.5% |
| MEDIAN HOME PRICE | $1,350,000 |
| AVERAGE PROPERTY TAX | $16,010 |
Train Stations
- Darien Train Station: 33 West Avenue, Darien, CT 06820-4402 (37.7 miles to Grand Central Terminal)
- Noroton Heights Train Station: 325 Heights Road, Darien, CT 06820-4121 (36.2 miles to Grand Central Terminal)
Schools
Darien is served by Darien Public Schools, and Darien High School was ranked No. 1 in the “U.S. News Best High Schools in Connecticut” in 2013. In June 2012, 24/7 Wall St. ranked Darien as the 10th wealthiest school district in the United States.
Darien has five elementary schools, one middle school, one high school and one private school:
- Hindley Elementary School
- HolmesElementary School
- Ox RidgeElementary School
- Royle Elementary School
- Tokeneke Elementary School
- Middlesex Middle School – A $27 million addition was completed in 2000
- Darien High School – A new $73 million campus was completed in the fall of 2005. Darien High School is ranked 11th within Connecticut according to U.S News & World Report.
- Pear Tree Point School, originally named Plumfield School, is a private school on Long Neck, educating students in pre-kindergarten through Grade 5.
Beaches
- Weed Beach – 22.12 acres at 155 Nearwater Lane, Noroton
- Pear Tree Point Beach – 7.95 acres at 127 Pear Tree Point Road
Parks & Fields
- Cherry Lawn Park – 27.5 acres at 120 Brookside Road
- Woodland Park Nature Preserve – 64.717 acres on Middlesex Road
- Baker Park – 11.72 acres at 75 Noroton Ave. (site of the former Baker School)
- Frate Park – 0.83 acres at the corner of Middlesex Road and Leroy Avenue
- McGuane Park – 7.5 acres at 221 Noroton Ave.
- Selleck’s Woods Nature Preserve – 28.093 acres on Little Brook Road
- Stony Brook Park – 11.3 acres on Ledge Road
- Town Hall and Holahan Fields – 10 acres at 2 Renshaw Road
- Tilley Pond Park – 8.651 acres on Lakeside Avenue
Private Membership Clubs
- Country Club of Darien
- Darien Boat Club
- Noroton Yacht Club
- Ox Ridge Hunt Club
- Piedmont Club
- Tokeneke Club
- Wee Burn Country Club
- Woodway Country Club
- Middlesex Club
- King’s Highway Tennis Club
Other Recreational Facilities
- Darien Park District’s Sportsplex: Three indoor ice rinks and an indoor field house
- YMCA
- YWCA