Fairfield

Located in the southwestern corner of the state along the shoreline and New York border, the Fairfield region is one of the most distinctive and diverse areas of Connecticut. Home to four of Connecticut's most dynamic and diverse metropolitan areas – Bridgeport, Stamford, Norwalk, and Danbury – as well as numerous coastal and inland small towns, the region has a range living options for everyone. Norwalk, Danbury, and Bridgeport all ranked in the Top 25 places to live in the Northeast¹. Its charm, lifestyle appeal, and lower cost of living offer a welcome counterbalance to New York City, both for residents and businesses alike.

While often considered part of the New York City metro economy – particularly when it comes to the financial services and digital technology sectors – Fairfield County is a powerhouse in its own right. 10 Fortune 500 companies call the region home², which also includes a thriving startup and tech-focused ecosystem. The diverse, skilled, mobile workforce is just one of the many reasons that the Fairfield region is considered by many to be a ‘global neighborhood.’

Location Advantages 

Transportation

• 28 MetroNorth railroad stations offer easy access for commuters into and out of New York City
• 30 minutes from Westchester County Airport, 1 hour from JFK and LaGuardia Airports in New York City
• Amtrak stops in Stamford and Bridgeport providing rail services throughout the country with convenient routes to Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.
• Bridgeport Harbor’s deep water port is undergoing major renovations to accommodate the offshore wind industry and other shipping needs

Workforce

• The Bridgeport metropolitan area was rated the 9th most productive in the U.S., higher than NYC³
• The Bridgeport metropolitan area was also ranked the 12th highest for educational attainment in the country⁴
• Fairfield University is the 3rd most innovative regional college in the northeast⁵

Diversity

• The Fairfield region is one of the most diverse in the country and a hub of multiculturalism.
• More than 1 in 3 residents of Stamford are foreign born
• Multiple cities rank nationally for the diversity of their residents, including⁶:
  • Bridgeport at #11
  • Stamford at #18
  • Danbury at #21
  • Norwalk at #46

Lifestyle 

Stamford 

#7 in Small Cities of the Future (Americas), #1 for Connectivity, #7 for Human Capital & Lifestyle⁷

Top 50 Best Cities for Young Professionals in the U.S.⁸

Danbury

Top 100 places to live in the U.S.⁹

Stratford

97th percentile for best small cities in America¹⁰

Major Companies

Cities and Towns

Learn more about each of the Fairfield region’s cities and towns:

¹Livability, 2024; ²Fortune, 2024; ³in terms of GDP per capita; Lightcast, 2023—Q1 2025 release; AdvanceCT calculations. ⁴WalletHub, 2025. ⁵US News & World Report, 2021; ⁶WalletHub, 2024; ⁷fDi Intelligence, 2021; ⁸Niche, 2025. ⁹Livability, 2025; ¹⁰WalletHub, 2025.