Westchester County vs. Fairfield County: Lifestyle

You are ready to move out of New York City and into the suburbs. You may have friends in both Fairfield County, CT, and Westchester County, NY but are wondering what is best for you and your lifestyle. Both areas have a variety of housing options, towns with great shopping and restaurants, and tight-knit communities. However, when choosing to live in New York or Connecticut, there are some key differences that may impact your decision.

Things to Consider:

Taxes: Property taxes are an important factor in your home purchase. They impact your mortgage payment and how much money you will be spending per month. When comparing a similar house in Westchester and Fairfield County, Westchester will generally have higher taxes than Fairfield (sometimes by as much as 3x higher). In Fairfield County, there is one set of property taxes that are based on the town’s mill rate. These can vary from town to town but in general, are lower than the taxes you experience in Westchester, where homes are subject to 4 different tax rates: city and town, village, school, and special district.

Commute: If you are planning on moving out of the city but commuting back for work, this is an important factor in your decision. Both Westchester and Fairfield Counties are serviced by the Metro-North Railroad and enter New York City via Grand Central station. Depending on where you live, you will ride one of three train lines - Harlem, Hudson, or New Haven. Westchester’s proximity to New York City means that train times will be shorter. Connecticut train lines use express (no stops) and semi-express (few stops) to cut down on train times during peak hours. These trains typically express from Greenwich and Stamford and can get you to New York City in an hour or less.

Closing Costs: Take a look at the Westchester and Fairfield County closing cost comparison guide here. In general, closing costs in Westchester are higher than in Fairfield County due to the mortgage and mansion taxes.

Schools: This is one area where you can feel confident in both counties. Westchester County and Fairfield County consistently have schools that rank highly in the state.

Size: Towns outside of New York City vary in size and density. Some offer a true suburban feel with mainly single-family homes while others offer apartment complexes and busier downtown areas. The size of the population typically correlates with the number of businesses and activities in a town. Larger towns have more metropolitan downtown areas and businesses whereas smaller towns offer the more typical “small town” feel.

What is best for you?

The best way to determine which area is right for you is to spend time there. You can consider all of the factors above but sometimes there is an indescribable thing that makes you fall in love with a specific place. Try renting or taking a day trip out of the city to spend times in the different towns. Drive around to get a feel for it, scope out the grocery stores, gyms, shops and restaurants. Talk to the people you meet and your friends about what they love about living there. It might take a little soul searching but each town offers something unique that could appeal to you.