Move to NY Suburbs: Darien

With four town parks, two public beaches on the Long Island Sound (Weed Beach and Pear Tree Point Beach), and at least seven private country clubs, including a pair of yacht clubs, residents of Darien enjoy plentiful resources for a bustling social life. Participation is the key to living in Darien, from sports programs (Darien has the largest Little League Baseball program in the country), to volunteering with one of the many charities or outreach programs. And for residents who are new to the area, the YWCA organizes newcomers groups for kids and couples for an easy transition to the community.

While Darien is known for its coastal atmosphere, there is also plenty of activity to be found inland. Residents enjoy access to the Darien Nature Center, located in the heart of Darien’s Cherry Lawn Park. The facility is home to a variety of animals, a grand exhibit gallery, a small theater, a library and several classrooms for nursery school programs. In nearby New Canaan is the popular Grace Farms, where you can experience nature, encounter the arts, pursue justice, foster community, and explore faith within an 80-acre landscape.

Darien is a small town, both in physical size (about 12 square miles of land, plus another two of water), and in population (just under 21,000 people), making it a tight-knit community. Many young families are attracted to Darien because of its public schools, which are uniformly renowned and include the top-rated high school in the state. The Darien Public Library is also one of the best libraries in the country. Others are also attracted to the town’s natural beauty and its active social, arts and sports cultures.

For commuters, New York City is easily accessible by car via nearby 1-95 or on Metro-North, which services the town with two stations, Noroton Heights and Darien. But with the recent approval of development in downtown Darien’s Corbin District, where “New York Meets New England”, there won’t be much need to travel elsewhere for a social scene. The development plan includes high-end boutiques, multiple exercise studios, luxury residential units, and office spaces in a one-of-a-kind architectural setting centered around a new town square. Several highly designed outdoor public spaces will complement the area, hosting farmers’ markets, outdoor concerts and various community gatherings.

Darien offers a diverse array of desirable housing. The town is divided into several neighborhoods, with Noroton, Noroton Heights and Tokeneke being the most well known. Inland, closer to the Merritt Parkway, older homes with large wooded lots neighbor the Ox Ridge Hunt Club, the Wee Burn Country Club and the Country Club of Darien, each of which holds local and national equestrian competitions. Near the center of town, the houses and lots are slightly smaller. Along the town’s 16.5 miles of coastline you will find multimillion-dollar estates on peninsulas overlooking the Long Island Sound.

At a Glance

The Lifestyle

Ample opportunity for outdoor recreation, leisure and community involvement

The Appeal

Small town communal atmosphere along the coast

The Darien Market

From coastline estates to historic capes in the woods

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