Darien CT Pros and Cons

So, you've been doing your research on Darien. Maybe you even watched the Darien pros and cons we did back in 2021. And you're probably wondering, is it the slam dunk that you hope it is, or is there something that you're missing?

Hi, my name's Charlie Vincy. I've helped hundreds of families relocate here over the last decade. Let's jump right into it.

Home Prices and Market Strength

All right, let's start with the biggest glaring con on the whole list, which is home prices. Clearly, since 2021, prices are up significantly. My memory serves me correct. We're looking between 41 and 53% depending on the neighborhood and what data you use. So, you're going to pay more for this house now than you did in the past.

The flip side of that coin is that the market is significantly better. If you go back to the pre-COVID market from 2019, while there may have been appreciation during some of the period from 2008 to 2019, it was relatively flat. And during some of those periods, it was certainly declining.

Today, that's completely different. You've got virtually no inventory. Depending on your price bracket, you may be going and looking at one or two houses on the market, depending on the time of year. And that means that really limited supply. When the right house comes on the market, you normally have a line of buyers in today's market.

So, there's a flip side. You're going to pay more for the house, but you wouldn't have seen it as the same good investment value as you did in 2019.

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More People, More Traffic

All right, let's talk about another significant con. All the people moving to the area. In other words, a slightly increased population means more traffic on the highways, right?

Even though we're commuting less, the reality is there's been some research done and we know that congestion is worse now than it was in 2021 or certainly pre-COVID and we are feeling that here locally. So it's more on the highways generally. I95 seems to be the bigger problem. But you may notice it in town, say on a Saturday afternoon when everyone's out and shopping.

Redevelopment and New Amenities

And speaking of shopping, oh has Darien changed in some really, really good ways. If you're not already aware, there's some massive redevelopments. Corbin District, which is in the main village area near the Darien Train Station. We have Darien Commons, which is near the Noroton Heights train station. And of course, we have a recent purchase of Great Island, which is a waterfront park new to Darien. 63 acres as I recall, right on the waterfront. Really prime piece of real estate, probably one of the most prime pieces of real estate all the way across the entire Northeast.

The town purchased it and is now turning it into a park which you'll be able to use. If you watch some of our other videos, you'll see the information on both the Corbin District and the Noroton Heights developments. And those are some really exciting developments that bring Darien much closer to its competitors like Greenwich as an example as far as the amenities.

In fact, when you break down the population relative to the amenities, you're pretty much on par with Greenwich. So, if you're thinking of Darien as an alternative to Greenwich, there might be a good fit there. And I really think you should explore.

Low Taxes

One consistent pro for Darien and some of the other towns in the area are the low taxes. The taxes relative to Westchester County and even other parts of Connecticut at the price points that you're probably looking at. Darien, you're going to find that the taxes are much lower, especially compared to Westchester County.

There's a lot of nuance to the taxes and we have other videos that cover that, so I'm not going to go into depth here, but you probably want to know that you have relatively low taxes in Darien. That still maintains as the same today.

Diversity Concerns

All right. Now, let's touch on a sensitive subject. Don't kill the messenger. Diversity.

Darien's diversity, well, pretty much non-existent. And I'll be frank with you. I get phone calls all the time from people who are concerned about this particular topic. So, let me do my best to address it here and understand that I'm trying to be as open and honest with you as I possibly can.

My personal experience with working with people in Darien is that I don't notice any of the things that people are reading on the internet and then calling me and asking me about. These are general diversity issues about, you know, am I going to be accepted? Is the neighborhood or is the town racist? And stuff like that.

I've worked in Darien for much longer than I've been a realtor. I have friends. I have people whom I regularly communicate with in Darien. Never ever once has anyone ever said or done anything that made me think that that conversation or that statement was racist in any way whatsoever.

So, that being said, the reality is there are concerns for some people. And so, the question is, how do you deal with that? And I'm going to give you the most practical method possible.

I would really encourage you to just come down and spend some time in Darien and answer the question for yourself. Go into the Darien Sport Shop, maybe buy some gifts for friends or family. Get some things done while you're here. Go over to The Goose and have lunch or dinner. Go see my friend Pete over at Darien Auto Body.

In other words, get out into the town, integrate with the people, and see if you really experience what the stereotype is online. My gut is you're probably not, but if you do, well, you've got your answer, right? And you know that maybe another town is a better fit. And that's really what this whole process is all about.

Cliquishness and Tight-Knit Community

Another conversation that I often have with people when they call in is a conversation around clickiness in Darien. In other words, groups of people sticking together, and it's hard to sort of break into those groups.

I think the reality is that a tight-knit community has some drawbacks. Tight-knit probably means that there's groups of people whom, you know, have their little cluster, and if you're the newbie in town and there's a party going on, maybe someone isn't thinking about inviting you yet because you're new. You're not on their short list. And that probably feels like having a hard time getting into these groups.

Safety, Schools, and Value

Okay, so let's talk about a few pros that haven't changed. If you've gone online and you've checked out tools like, let's say, Neighborhood Scout, you've seen most likely that the crime ratings are relatively low compared to other areas. If you've gone and checked out the schools, you'll see that they're relatively high compared to other areas.

Those are consistent and quite frankly those are some of the big reasons that people continue to pay the prices that they do in Darien. It's a beautiful town. There's a lot of really great features, but those are two that are sort of deal killers for a lot of people.

Commute

Commutability is also still very good with Darien. As you know, relative to Greenwich, it's a maybe five or 10 minute add-on to your train ride. So, not a huge difference and you're a little farther up the line. So you might get a better seat on your way to Manhattan and actually get something done on your way there.

So train, you have two stations. We'll have other videos for more info on your commute, whether you're going by train or car. So check out those. But know that the commute, the quality of the commute, stays the same.

Small Town Feel and Walkability

One real advantage for a lot of people is the small town feel and vibe of Darien. If you compare it to other towns, most of them are larger. There's more people and it changes the environment. Makes it feel more busy, more like a city.

Darien maybe in the village areas can feel that way, but once you leave the area it feels like a premium suburban town like many.

Another real pro that many people have experienced with Darien is its walkability. If you focus on the village areas near the Noroton Heights train station, near the Darien Train Station, highly walkable in those specific areas. But once you get to the north part of town, not terribly walkable. I'm sure you could check the walkability scores online, but know that walkability is definitely getting better since 2021 with all of the redevelopment.

The Uniqueness of Tokeneke

One thing that I did not mention in 2021, but I think does deserve a mention as I look back, is the uniqueness of the Tokeneke neighborhood. If you go to Tokeneke and you experience the area while you're exploring when you come here, which I would highly encourage you to do, definitely call me before you come so I can help you make a really great visit and make the effective use of your time while you're here.

But go to the Tokeneke neighborhood. Check it out. It's unique. It's not like any other neighborhood in the Gold Coast. And I have to tell you, if you go there and you fall in love like I do sometimes, you're going to have a hard time finding another neighborhood like that. It's that simple.

Family-Oriented Lifestyle

Another real positive for Darien. It's a family oriented town. What usually has happened or what's happened over time with our population is there's a lot of influx from New York. And normally what happens is a person develops their career, they move on, they start having kids, then they start to think differently. They think suburbs, right?

And Darien, of course, is one of those suburbs. Small town feel, vibe, sort of family oriented. People are really coming here for the big picture family life. And I think you're going to find that it's reflected in the lifestyle. When you're driving around, you'll see kids riding their bikes and all that kind of stuff.

Sports Programs

Another real pro for Darien is their sports programs in the public school system. So, if your kids are into sports, I would highly encourage you to go and dig into that data because there are many, many programs and they have won many, many championships.

Pace of Life and Entertainment

I'd say one drawback for Darien that you're going to notice for sure, especially if you're coming out of New York City or maybe one of the other cities around the US or the world, is that Darien being a family town, that also means it's kind of slow paced relative to those other environments that you're used to.

Now, we do have New York City. It's a train ride away, an hour. You can go in for a show easily and come home at night and really not even notice it. It's just a night out, night on the town. You're right there in the city. And of course, you got the world's entertainment there.

Locally, we do have opportunities for things like comedy and movies and events throughout the year, and there's tons of them. So, you're going to have plenty to do here. But it's more, it's less exciting, I guess, than what you're probably used to in a city.

Contractor Costs

All right. So, let's talk about another drawback that people who live in Darien, move to Darien, often tell me that contractors overcharge them. They feel like they're paying more for a job. Perhaps they call their or speak to their friend over in a neighboring town and that person says, "How much did you pay to paint your house?"

And of course, that makes the homeowner in Darien sort of feel like they're potentially getting ripped off. My friends in other towns are not paying the same prices.

And I'm going to be honest with you, there's some truth to that. You may know that my past life many, many years ago now before I was a realtor I was a contractor and what I have to tell you is some contractors are going to come to the town and know that it's a wealthy town and naturally just write a higher estimate. That is the reality.

However, there are other things at play here. You have in Darien, or as a contractor when we come to that town we know that that client has a higher standard. That means I have to send my better guys. I might have to follow up on that crew a little bit more. It's more time. It's more money. The price of the job has to be higher to compensate for the client.

So, it's a little bit of both. So, don't think that you're not getting anything for the extra money. You are getting a better quality job. In my experience, of course, you got to search out the right contractors, but if you have the right contractors, they're doing a different level of job.

Your Next Step

So, what's your next step? Beyond looking for properties, get out and explore Darien. See if it's a fit for you.

But first, give me a call. Get all those questions answered and tell me if you're planning to visit so I can show you where you'll most likely find what you're looking for. This way, you won't waste any time or miss anything important.

And third, bookmark my buyer guide for the towns that you're interested in. It's where I have all of my maps, videos, and town info organized. It'll give you the tools to make a great choice.