Norwalk Homes for Sale

Located in Southwest Fairfield County, Norwalk is a community of affordable luxury with a small-town feel. It maintains a strong connection with history and the coast. Norwalk offers the area’s only shopping mall and still maintains lively downtown neighborhoods with shops and dining.

Distinct areas offer a broad cross-section of history, industry, tourism, culture, and arts. Norwalk is one of the major ports in the Long Island Sound and hosting US Route 7, Interstate 95, the Merritt Parkway, and 4 major State highways make it an accessible community from both land and water.

A variety of local industries and easy commuting distance to Bridgeport, Stamford, and New York City offers a commuter town with a mix of historical homes and new builds. The popular area of South Norwalk boasts the coastal community of Rowayton with luxury accommodations and private clubs.

 Population: 88,655

 Schools:

Elementary:  Rowayton, Wolfpit, Naramake, Columbus Magnet, Marvin, Jefferson, Kendall, Brookside, Cranbury, Fox Run, Silvermine Dual Language Magnet, Tracey Magnet

Middle Schools:  Roton, West Rocks, Nathan Hale, Ponus Ridge, Columbus Magnet

High Schools: Norwalk, Brien McMahon, Center for Global Studies

Number of Preschools: 6

Number of Private Schools: 4

 Colleges:

• University of Phoenix
• Norwalk Community College
• Yale School of Medicine Intern Program

 Libraries:

• Norwalk Public Library 
• East Norwalk Public Library
• South Norwalk Branch
• Rowayton Library
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Public Recreation:  YMCA, Sterling Farms Golf Course, Oak Hills Park Golf Course, E. Gaynor Brennan Golf Course, Oak Hills Tennis Club, Mathews Park

Private Clubs:  Rockrimmon Country Club, Woodway Beach Club, Innis Arden Golf Club, Stamford Yacht Club, Silvermine Golf Club, Shorehaven Golf Club

 Attractions:

• Maritime Aquarium
• Stepping Stones Museum for Children
• Lockwood-Mathews Mansion & Museum
• Sheffield Island Lighthouse

 Festivals:

• SoNo Arts Festival
• Oyster Festival
• In-Water Boat Show

 

Neighborhoods:  Broad River, Brookside, Cranbury, East Norwalk, Golden Hill, Hospital Hill, Marvin Beach, Oak Hills, Rowayton, Silvermine, Spring Hill, The Norwalk Green, Village Creek, West Main, West Norwalk, West Rocks, Wilson Point, Winnipauk, Wolfpit, Woods Pond, Woodward

 LINK TO LONG VERSION

Norwalk offers a variety of historical neighborhoods blended with new development that present a range of housing options. Notable neighborhoods include SoNo (South Norwalk) which adds a vibrant mix of fine dining, arts, and entertainment, and Rowayton, tucked in the southwest corner, on a peninsula that creates its own private community of luxury coastal accommodation.

 History

Settled in 1649 the area was known for its rich soil and developed an agricultural community. Known also as an international port, it boasted a garment industry and exported rope very early on. Norwalk continues to have an industrial presence. The Burndy Engineering Company once boasted the Burndy Library, founded in 1941, which housed, at one time, the largest collection of scientific literature from the greatest thinkers of their time including Sir Isaac Newton, Louis Pasteur, and an edition of a math text from Archimedes dating back to 1544.

The Norwalk waterfront is one of the most important areas in the western end of Long Island Sound. Both commercial and recreational boats fill the shoreline at 15 separate marinas and 13 private clubs. Lighthouses, beaches, and both protected islands and marinas add a large tourism draw to the waterfront in the warm waters of the Sound.

 Transportation

Norwalk is a hub for transportation including I95 following the east-west shore as well as a Route 7 to the north for access throughout the county and the state. It is on the train line to NYC, only 50 minutes away. The vast shoreline boasts a large coastal area alive with all sizes of sea vessels for pleasure travel as well as commercial cargo.

 Employment

Commuting options provide work in major centers like New York City to the west or Bridgeport to the east as well as many destinations along the rail service. Within Norwalk, healthcare, science and technical services compete with hospitality and finance as the top employers.

 Notable Attractions

Maritime Aquarium – The Seaport Association manages the Maritime Aquarium and Sheffield Island Lighthouse and Keeper’s cottage and hosts the Annual Oyster Festival driving tourism and preserving the history of the waterfront area.

Gallaher Mansion  – Beautiful grounds for hikes and an 1800’s beautiful manor is a perfect venue for weddings and events. Also on the property is the Carriage House Theatre and Cranbury Park.

Stepping Stones Children’s Museum – A favourite for area schools and families alike, this museum targeting play to promote learning offers travelling and in-house displays for a new experience each time you visit.

Fodor Farm -The historic farm, first owned by the Lockwood family, maintained a farming presence as the city changed due to industry and suburban development. The site now boasts community organic gardens and a completed renovated facility to host your next intimate event.

 Entertainment

Historic museums, like the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion, blend with vital new events like the SoNo Arts Festival, the Oyster Festival, and the In-Water Boat Show providing arts, culture, and community connections. Entertainment can also be found at the Carriage House Theater, on the grounds of the Gallaher Mansion, highlighting local theatrical talent with seasonal performances from spring to fall.

The SoNo Arts Festival is an annual event that has grown from the many artisans, fine artists, media artists, and galleries in South Norwalk. It includes food an entertainment for the whole family as well as juried art shows and merchants.

The Norwalk Historical Society Museum has spread art throughout the town with the WPA Murals exhibit at City Hall and the Faces of Norwalk as part of the Fence Art Project that provides a walking tour of historical paintings throughout the city.

 Parks and Recreation

Parks of varying sizes are scattered throughout the area, and many are connected with bicycle and pedestrian trails that also connect the two separate downtown areas of the North and South Norwalk by the Norwalk River Valley Trail. Two of the larger parks are Fodor Farm and Cranbury Park. Taylor Farm provides a dog park.

The watefront also provides many marinas and beaches including Calf Pasture and Shady Beach, Veteran’s Park and Marina, and Oyster Shell Park. Extending beyond the shore to the Norwalk Islands and Camping offers a little more remote recreation.

Golf, tennis, and all variety of water sports are available in the area. Golf is available at Oaks Hills Park. Private Clubs include Shorehaven Golf and Country  Club, Innis Arden Golf Club, and the Silvermine Golf Club.

 Education

Beyond the many public elementary and secondary schools, Norwalk also offers 4 private schools: All Saints Catholic School, Parkway Christian Academy, Regina Pacis Academy, and Winston Preparatory School, with no religious affiliation.

Post secondary schools include Norwalk Community College, The University of Phoenix-Conneticut campus, and a teaching hospital at Norwalk Hospital for the Yale School of Medicine.

 The lure of Norwalk is the mix of neighborhoods, culture, and real estate values to offer a growing community for a variety of lifestyles.