Living in Stratford, CT

Stratford sits between Milford and Bridgeport on Long Island Sound at the mouth of the Housatonic River, and is the easternmost town in Fairfield County. With just over 52,000 residents, it is a popular commuter town for those working in New Haven, New York (59 miles to Grand Central Station) and Stamford/Greenwich. The housing stock is varied, with newer developments and condominium complexes mixed in with older homes. Seventy-six percent of the housing stock is single-family and moderately priced.

Stratford’s Distinct Neighborhoods

Stratford is made up of numerous smaller communities, each offering residents its own unique brand of New England charm. Some of the more desirable communities include:

Lordship, where Stratford meets Long Island Sound, with breathtaking views and lots of fun restaurants and breweries.

The Putnam, Barnum Avenue, and charming Town Center neighborhoods lie along the Housatonic River as it meanders to Long Island Sound.

Oronoque Village is a 55+ condominium community with just under a thousand attached units which is built around a country club with lots of amenities.

Public school students attend one of nine elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools offering a full range of indoor and outdoor athletic programming for students. The Stratford area offers many additional options for private schools, parochial schools, and colleges within a short distance. Students can even commute by train, as there is good service both locally and to New York City.

Stratford intersects with both I-95 and CT-15 (Merritt Parkway), along with major highways Routes 1 and 8. It is also a commuter rail station on the Metro-North New Haven Line and CTrails Shoreline East.

With its location on both Long Island Sound and the Housatonic River, Stratford has several beaches and marinas for recreational use, and hosts an active boating community.

As one of the earliest settlements in Connecticut, Stratford has a rich New England history. The Stratford Center District, made up of scores of historic buildings, has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1983, and presents a summer program of plays held outside in the American Shakespeare State Park. 

Stratford also contains the 250 acre Roosevelt Forest, is part of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, and is host to Audubon CT at Stratford Point, all of which offer incredible bird watching opportunities and outdoor family fun. 

Also plan to visit the Connecticut Air & Space Center, the National Helicopter Museum and the Captain David Judson House.