Best Towns for Train Commute to NYC from ConnecticutThe shoreline towns in Connecticut closest to the New York border offer the shortest commuting times to New York City, whether by car or train. Most commuters prefer to use the train rather than drive into the city, but I have done both over the years. I've commuted from New Canaan, Norwalk, Westport, Fairfield, and the Black Rock section of Bridgeport. When I was completing my Ph.D. at Columbia University, I drove my car, but when I began working in mid-town, commuting by train was easier and more productive (thanks to laptop computers).
If you are thinking of moving to Connecticut and commuting to Manhattan, you'll want to consider not just the train ride itself, but also the wait list for the train station parking lot. Based on information compiled from the CT Department of Transportation and the Western Connecticut Council, I'm summarizing the wait list situation of several popular commuting towns starting with the closest to NYC first:
Greenwich - wait is 1.5 years for the Cos Cob and Riverside lots
Darien - wait is about 6 years for the Darien station and 7.5 years for the Noroton Heights station, town has no plans to expand parking at present
Norwalk - waiting list of 2 years for So. Norwalk lot, 136 on wait list for East Norwalk lot, Rowayton had a wait list of 100 as of April 2018
Westport - wait is about 2 years
Fairfield - has three stations, including the Fairfield Metro station within a mile radius of most residents Black Rock - wait list for the Fairfield Metro station is 1.5 years - more parking spaces are planned on Hentry Carter Drive for the downtown train station - day parking is readily available at the Fairfield Metro station, but scarce at the downtown Fairfield station, which has a wait list of 2 to 2.5 years
Black Rock (part of Bridgeport)- wait is about 1.5 years
Stratford - waiting list of 14 months as of December 2018
Best Towns for Commuters Needing Parking
Based on the information above Greenwich, the Rowayton section of Norwalk, Fairfield, and the Black Rock section of Bridgeport offer the best commuting options. Greenwich is a desirable shoreline town on the border of New York state. Rowayton is a lovely seaside village in Norwalk, Fairfield is a large town the size of Bridgeport with beaches and a vibrant downtown area, and Black Rock is another lovely seaside village situated on the border of Fairfield and Bridgeport. Of the four locations, Greenwich is the priciest, then Rowayton followed by Fairfield. Black Rock is the most affordable of the four communities and has easy access to Connecticut's newest train station.
If you haven't heard of Black Rock, you should take a quick look. It may be your best commuting option to New York City given the ample Day Parking, short wait for permit parking, and express trains that take just over an hour. Check out Black Rock at www.blackrockhomesforsale.com
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