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Downtown Norwalk

Downtown Norwalk

Suburban Neighborhood in Norwalk, Connecticut

Fairfield County 06850, 06851

$561,077 Average Value
$400 Average Price per Sq Ft
13 Homes For Sale

A diverse, growing community in central Norwalk

Downtown Norwalk is the low-key core of the ever-evolving community of Norwalk, a small coastal city in Fairfield County. “Norwalk is a resilient place. Even in its early history," says Tony Parenti, a Norwalk Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway New England Properties who’s been serving the area since 1994. "During the Revolutionary War, the British set Norwalk on fire to try to lure George Washington out of West Point. To compensate the people who lost property in the fire, the government actually paid for them to relocate to a town in Ohio that they also called Norwalk." He tells of how a whole new group of people settled in Norwalk and made their homes in the early 19th century and adds that since the 1776 destruction, the town has endured more challenges that have given it character. The manufacturing industry flourished in the 1800s before factories shuttered throughout the 1900s, and a large flood in 1955 caused major damage. Despite challenges, Norwalk’s population has continued to grow and evolve, partially due to its location 50 miles northeast of New York City. “We just have a lot of different types of people who coexist and welcome newcomers here,” Parenti adds. The community’s commitment to growth and improvement is evidenced by local non-profit organizations like the Norwalk Art Space and the Norwalk International Cultural Exchange, which both strive to cultivate creative, welcoming spaces at Norwalk's core.

Condos, Cape Cods and Colonial Revivals on gridded streets

Downtown Norwalk’s central location and increasing population keeps the market moving quickly. “We got a lot of buyers when New Yorkers were fleeing the city during Covid,” says Dee Braaten, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty who’s served the area for over 24 years. “The homes are cheaper than other spots in Fairfield County, and Norwalk’s shopping districts keep taxes lower.” The neighborhood has condo buildings that were built throughout the 20th century; designs run the gamut between Tudor-inspired styles and contemporary shingled buildings. Condos are usually priced between $200,000 and $600,000. Single-family houses on green lawns with garden landscaping appear on gridded streets. Bungalows and Cape Cods from the early 1900s usually cost between $400,000 and $700,000, while Colonial Revivals and larger Capes from the later 1900s are within the $800,000 to $1.3 million range.

Many Colonial Revivals line the residential streets of Downtown Norwalk.
Many Colonial Revivals line the residential streets of Downtown Norwalk.
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Local restaurants and a popular mall near downtown

Downtown Norwalk is peppered with a diverse blend of local eateries, which often occupy century-old buildings. The Lime Restaurant is a health-conscious establishment serving falafel and blackened chicken wraps in a comfortable dining room decorated with blue gingham tablecloths. B.J. Ryan’s BanC House is a popular barbecue spot where diners order pulled pork and lobster rolls. Margaritas and small plates of elevated Latin dishes are popular at Alma Bistro, a contemporary Latin restaurant with a bright, organic interior. For groceries, shoppers head to regional supermarkets like City Market and Stew Leonard’s. There are a few small businesses along Main Street, but the largest retail district in the area is just south of Downtown Norwalk. South Norwalk’s The SoNo Collection shopping mall opened in 2019 and features modern lighting installations, bright murals and popular shops like Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, H&M, Aldo, Zara and Apple.

Stop & Shop is a go-to grocery store for families and individuals in Downtown Norwalk.
Stop & Shop is a go-to grocery store for families and individuals in Downtown Norwalk.
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Walking trails, museums and playground equipment at Mathews Park

Locals lounge in the small public parks around Norwalk, including Norwalk Green, a landscaped stretch of grass with a gazebo. It's next to the town hall, which hosts events like the annual summer concert series. Mathews Park is one of the larger recreational gathering points, where residents find the 19th-century Lockwood-Mathews Mansion, a sprawling Second Empire structure originally built for a railroad financier and now a striking museum. Along with a large playground called Devon’s Place and tennis courts, Mathews Park also has the Stepping Stones Museum. The educational children’s museum has hands-on exhibits and themed presentations. From Mathews Park, cyclists and joggers may join the Norwalk River Valley Trail, a multi-use pathway that currently goes for 8 miles, though there are plans to make it a 30-mile-long network to span numerous cities across Fairfield County. In the summer, many leave the downtown area and head south to the coast, where they drive about 4 miles to popular spots like Calf Pasture Beach. “Norwalk residents can get an inexpensive beach pass at town hall, which is great because otherwise, it can be close to $50 to park,” Braaten says. “You can’t get people to stay away from Calf Pasture in the summer.” Beachgoers pack onto the sandy shores, go fishing from the pier or launch kayaks from the boat launch. During Connecticut’s cold winters, people hang out at the Norwalk Public Library, which has a maker’s space with a 3D printer, embroidery equipment, a Cricut machine and a Virtual Reality headset. Bands often take the stage at District Music Hall, Downtown Norwalk’s historic music venue, which originally opened in 1915.

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Experience the charm of Norwalk's Cost at Calf Pasture Beach.
Experience the charm of Norwalk's Cost at Calf Pasture Beach.
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Free art galleries and cultural festivals in Norwalk

Downtown Norwalk has a mix of small community events and large-scale festivals. “Norwalk has a large diversity of different cultures, so a lot of the events downtown revolve around cultural celebrations,” Braaten says. The Norwalk International Culture Exchange, or NICE, is a nonprofit organization that offers educational programs year-round and hosts an annual festival in July. NICE Fest has food stands and performances from groups like Kalpulli Aztec dancers, Indigenous drummers, Thai dancers, Ecuadorian folk dancers and Irish bagpipers. In September, the St. George Greek Orthodox Church hosts the Kefi Greek Festival, where residents sample baklava and enjoy traditional dances. People may visit the Norwalk Art Space more frequently. The nonprofit organization has free galleries that highlight a diverse range of artists and creative mediums. The space’s resident and visiting artists teach free weekly art classes for preteens and teenagers, and local musicians host weekly guitar and choir lessons.

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Freese Park is a small park with a big atmosphere during Open Jam on Tuesday nights.
Freese Park is a small park with a big atmosphere during Open Jam on Tuesday nights.
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Digital media studies at Norwalk High

Children might begin at Marvin Elementary School and advance to Nathan Hale Middle School. Both schools earn B-minus ratings from Niche. Norwalk High School, which has a B rating, serves older students. The high school offers various learning pathways, including a digital media and communications academy, where students can study graphic design, photography and video production.

Silvermine students graduate from Norwalk High School.
Silvermine students graduate from Norwalk High School.
Marvin Elementary School in Norwalk serves students in grades K through 5th.
Marvin Elementary School in Norwalk serves students in grades K through 5th.
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Commuter trains, bus stops and walkable streets in Downtown Norwalk

Downtown Norwalk’s gridded residential streets have sidewalks, which lead to the restaurants and businesses on Main Avenue. Locals may also walk to the bus stops serviced by the Norwalk Transit District; the bus transit center is also in the neighborhood. Buses operate throughout Norwalk and take commuters to the train station. “People commute all throughout Fairfield County, but a good majority of commuters are heading to New York City,” Braaten says. “They might attempt to drive for a couple of weeks, but most people will end up taking the train since it’s faster.” South Norwalk and East Norwalk have train stations with park-and-ride garages; both stations are under 2 miles from Downtown Norwalk. Metro-North Railroad’s New Haven line departs from the stations every half hour, arriving at Grand Central Terminal in about 50 to 80 minutes. Drivers also have access to two major roadways; Interstate 95 goes 10 miles southwest to Stamford and 50 miles southwest to New York City, as does the Merritt Parkway. “You really need to get to know the flow of traffic around here. Sometimes, it’ll take you 30 to 45 minutes just to get to Stamford,” Braaten says. She adds that drivers will switch between Interstate 95 and the Merritt Parkway, depending on their destination and time of day.

Amanda Boivin
Written By
Amanda Boivin
Elma Kukaj
Photography Contributed By
Elma Kukaj
Ruo Zheng
Video By
Ruo Zheng

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Schools

Source:
GreatSchools: The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

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Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Westchester County

34 min drive

Bus

15 Ward St. & Aiken

Bus

Crossst & Wiltonave

Bus

Wheels Hub

Bus

Park & North

Bus

128 East Ave. Across From City Hall

Bus

6 Ward St. & Main Ave. & Bank Of America

Bus

Main & New Cannan Ob

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Downtown Norwalk US
Homicide 3 4
Sexual Assault 4 4
Assault with Weapon 4 4
Robbery 4 4
Burglary 6 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 7 4
Larceny 7 4
Crime Score 5 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Demographics and Home Trends

Home Trends

Median Price (12 Mo)
$510,000
Median Single Family Price
$625,250
Median Townhouse Price
$460,000
Median 2 Bedroom Price
$465,000
Median 1 Bedroom Price
$280,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$400
Number of Homes for Sale
13
Last 12 months Home Sales
119
Months of Supply
1.30
Median List Price
$480,000
Median Discount From 1st List Price
-5%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
12%

Home Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
3,051
Median Year Built
1960
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,666
Below the national average
1,935
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,012
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,168
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
767
Average Studio Size Sq Ft
588
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
7,405

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

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Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Renters

Demographics

Total Population
15,553
Median Age
40
Population Density
11 ppl/acre
Population under 18
22.2%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
16.4%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$87,484
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$115,168

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
89.8%
College Graduates
44.7%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
21.2%
% Population in Labor Force
75.3%
Above the national average
65.1%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
53''
Average Winter Low Temperature
21°F
Average Summer High Temperature
84°F
Annual Snowfall
28''

Area Factors

Bikeable

Bike Score®

53 / 100

Very Walkable

Walk Score®

72 / 100

Some Transit

Transit Score®

49 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

Nearby Neighborhoods

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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Downtown Norwalk