If you’re buying a house in Connecticut and you want to give your family access to the best public education in the state, look no further than New Canaan. This affluent town in southeastern Fairfield County is known for its beautiful landscapes and gorgeous houses, but it also has the best school district in the Constitution State.
How good are New Canaan’s schools? Well, a recent edition of Forbes magazine rated the New Canaan School District the third best in the entire country. In 2009, 22 New Canaan High School students were recognized as National Merit Commended Scholars, and 30% of that graduating class attended colleges that made the “Most Competitive” list in Barron’s magazine.
Of course, excellent schooling is to be expected, since New Canaan is one of the wealthiest communities in the United States. There are some extraordinary homes in the area. Famous architects like Frank Lloyd Wright and the famed “Harvard Five” made New Canaan their proving ground in the 1940’s, building dozens of unique, ultra-contemporary houses that are studied by architecture students to this day. Even Waveny Park, the town’s biggest public space, features a 12-bedroom castle on its 300 acres. Not ready to throw down for a castle? For $800,000, the median home price in New Canaan, you can probably find a dwelling that’s somewhat tolerable.
When you’re not enjoying the town’s tree-lined streets and award-winning historical district, you’ll have plenty to do in the great outdoors. New Canaan has access to excellent hiking and mountain biking trails as well as some nice fishing streams.
If you want the absolute best piece of Connecticut real estate that money can buy, then New Canaan should sit at the top of your list. Its historic charm, magnificent architecture and astoundingly good education system can’t be found anywhere else in the country.
