The second most populous city in Connecticut is Stamford, a quickly growing city in the combined New York City metropolitan area that lends a unique Connecticut-inspired influence on the entire eastern seaboard. Stamford is known nationwide for its thriving financial district, top-notch schools, and high-end real estate, but there is much more to know before moving to the area.
What exactly is unique about Stamford? What gives it its flair? And why do people continue to flock to the city and contribute to the ever-changing culture here? Below, we’ll dive in and share with you the little-known details about life in Stamford, CT. If you plan to move here, this is the place to start.
Stamford's cost of living
The first thing that many newcomers to a city want to know is the real cost of living in town. Connecticut is home to some of the wealthiest home owners and influential people involved in the finance industry. Stamford itself is where at least nine Fortune 500 companies are based.
On the grand scale, the cost of living in Stamford is about 30% higher than the national average and 10-11% higher than in the state. Housing is the most expensive cost for Stamford residents, with current estimates placing it 65% higher than the national mean. The average monthly rent sits at just under $2,800, and the average price for a single-family home is nearly $700,000.
On the grand scale, the cost of living in Stamford is about 30% higher than the national average and 10-11% higher than in the state. Housing is the most expensive cost for Stamford residents, with current estimates placing it 65% higher than the national mean. The average monthly rent sits at just under $2,800, and the average price for a single-family home is nearly $700,000.
The labor market in Stamford is thriving
Opportunities to find a job in Stamford are at an all-time high in 2023. At least nine Fortune 500 companies have headquarters in town — corporations like United Rentals, Charter, and Starwood Hotels, just to name a few. At the same time, unemployment is at record lows in Stamford, currently sitting at 3.8%.
The average income for residents of Stamford is nearly $82,000, which is well above the national mean. If you’re in need of a high-paying job in the city, there is ample room to find a position quickly.
The average income for residents of Stamford is nearly $82,000, which is well above the national mean. If you’re in need of a high-paying job in the city, there is ample room to find a position quickly.
The climate is highly variable
If you’re someone who appreciates the pains as well as the pleasures of a variable climate, Stamford’s your place. The winters in the city can be biting, with 30 inches of snow on average. The autumns are to die for, as Stamford sits right at the beginning of the massive wooded area that turns such a brilliant red and orange as soon as the temperature dips.
Spring and summer in Stamford are pleasant. Recent data shows that the average high year-round has been about 73 degrees, so you don’t have to make many changes to your wardrobe when it gets warm in the summer. All in all, Stamford is a great place to observe the changing seasons.
Spring and summer in Stamford are pleasant. Recent data shows that the average high year-round has been about 73 degrees, so you don’t have to make many changes to your wardrobe when it gets warm in the summer. All in all, Stamford is a great place to observe the changing seasons.
Transportation options are numerous
Stamford has been in its current city layout for at least three hundred years. That means that some long-standing transportation channels have grown and grown over the years, providing residents with some of the most reliable traffic times in New England.
One mode of transport that locals like to use is the trolley system. The Harbor Point Trolley is a highly reliable way to get to work with no cost and at high speed (it takes just a half hour to travel around the entire city). Highways are in tip-top shape, and there are many other options for people to get around if you live downtown.
One mode of transport that locals like to use is the trolley system. The Harbor Point Trolley is a highly reliable way to get to work with no cost and at high speed (it takes just a half hour to travel around the entire city). Highways are in tip-top shape, and there are many other options for people to get around if you live downtown.
Schooling comes first in Stamford
It’s hard to overstate how highly Stamford leadership thinks of its educational opportunities. From the first day of kindergarten to the final day of your postdoctoral career, you’ll have little need to leave the city limits.
There are 70 private schools to attend in town and over 20 different public school districts. Stamford is near all the top New York schooling institutions and Connecticut’s best, like Yale and the Academy of Information Technology and Engineering. There has also been an influx of magnet schools in Stamford recently that provide highly motivated children and teens with a focused curriculum. They can prepare them for specialized IT, biomedicine, architecture, and more careers.
There are 70 private schools to attend in town and over 20 different public school districts. Stamford is near all the top New York schooling institutions and Connecticut’s best, like Yale and the Academy of Information Technology and Engineering. There has also been an influx of magnet schools in Stamford recently that provide highly motivated children and teens with a focused curriculum. They can prepare them for specialized IT, biomedicine, architecture, and more careers.
Shopping and dining are world-class
Stamford is the beating heart of Connecticut’s commercial industry and home to some of its finest shopping and dining outfits. You can spend years exploring Stamford’s thriving commercial districts before exhausting all your options.
The Town Center is perhaps the first mall to visit after moving to Stamford, CT. You’ll find nearly 150 unique shops and boutiques to match any desire. Visit the Apple Store to purchase a new computer, pull up to Brooks Brothers for a suit or alterations, then close off the day at Pottery Barn for some updates to your home’s decor.
The restaurants in Stamford are also hard to match outside New York City. Cafe Silvium serves the freshest fish in the state, while a night out at Terra Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse will leave you yearning for more barbecue. Brunch is a lifestyle in Stamford, with Columbus Park Trattoria and Elm Street Diner just a few options.
The Town Center is perhaps the first mall to visit after moving to Stamford, CT. You’ll find nearly 150 unique shops and boutiques to match any desire. Visit the Apple Store to purchase a new computer, pull up to Brooks Brothers for a suit or alterations, then close off the day at Pottery Barn for some updates to your home’s decor.
The restaurants in Stamford are also hard to match outside New York City. Cafe Silvium serves the freshest fish in the state, while a night out at Terra Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse will leave you yearning for more barbecue. Brunch is a lifestyle in Stamford, with Columbus Park Trattoria and Elm Street Diner just a few options.
Get in touch with a local real estate agent today
With that, we’ve come to the end of our list of everything you need to know before moving to Stamford, CT. The climate is welcoming, the job market is open, the locals are kind, and it’s easy to get around and start a family. With so many benefits to living here, it’s a wonder the city hasn’t expanded more than it already has!
If you have questions about Stamford, CT, or real estate in the area, don’t hesitate to reach out today! Contact Staci Zampa for more information.
*Header photo courtesy of Unsplash
If you have questions about Stamford, CT, or real estate in the area, don’t hesitate to reach out today! Contact Staci Zampa for more information.
*Header photo courtesy of Unsplash
