Did you know that this Christmas day marked the 176th anniversary of the York-New Haven train line?

The final section of track was laid right here in Cos Cob on December 25th,1848 and the first trial run was later that day. Now, almost two centuries later, thousands take the train to achieve their dose of a “New York State of mind” daily (I guess “the New Haven Line” didn’t roll off the tongue as easily for Billy Joel).

While Connecticut and New York have been inextricably linked in their development since before the country’s founding, the train line cemented the two states’ eternal bond. And as the first stop in Connecticut, Greenwich plays an important role in the life of the greater New York City Metropolitan area.

With an express Metro North train clocking in at just over 45 minutes from Greenwich to Grand Central, our coveted hamlet offers the best of Connecticut living with the prowess and access of New York City. While sharing a terminus with hundreds of thousands of people (especially since the opening of the LIRR at Grand Central) may seem daunting, there are plenty of perks to commuting into (or out of!) the city.

All Aboard

Grand Central Terminal, even at its busiest, is one of the most beautiful stations in the world, and while the Greenwich Station puts function over form (sorry if you love modernism…) the Cos Cob station is listed on the national registrar of historic places. Whether boarding the train daily or only for a special occasion, the frequency and efficiency of the region’s rail network opens the entire tri-state region to a world of possibilities where there is something for everyone, at every stage of life. And let’s be honest, the train is just one option. For as many times as I’ve hopped on the train, I’ve also driven into the city or shared a ride with friends.

In thinking about real estate decisions, many people are limited by location. Here, public infrastructure opens the door to a nearly limitless supply of possibilities. Instead of focusing on the commute, it’s important to recognize the access. For example, the ability to work a high profile job for a leading company in New York City each day, and the space to unwind with family each evening. Of course, that is the classic and most common example of metro-north and I-95 passengers but the bountiful opportunities of the region go much further.

It’s all about priorities: What do you want to live 5 minutes from and what can you be an hour from? For many people that choose to live in Greenwich, they are prioritizing home-size, green space, taxes, K-12 educational and extracurricular opportunities, and likely living with at least one four-legged friend and one four-wheel-drive vehicle. For those who choose the city, I often see a prioritization of university and post-graduate education, job opportunities, cultural spectacles, and homes with high walk scores—just to get out of the building is more steps than many of us take each day.

But the best part is that living in either place doesn’t mean sacrificing hobbies, interests, dreams, or aspirations simply due to location. We all still have access to the perks of the other. Take it from my two team members, both Fairfield County natives, Liz Levison and Craig Gibson Jr.

Liz Knows Greenwich

Growing up here, I went to Greenwich Day School, where I now serve on the Alumni Advisory Committee. I love my hometown. I moved to Manhattan after attending Wake Forest University, not only because it was close to home, it was also exactly the right place to start my career. Learning the hardnose negotiating tactics of New York real estate, I worked on everything from studio rentals to multi-million dollar penthouses.

After a decade, it was time to move somewhere with more space, both inside the home and out. My husband and I were ready to start a family (we just welcomed our first daughter this year!), and, though many people do it, raising a family in Manhattan was not ideal to me. Moreover, having grown up in Greenwich, my family is still here and with some of the best schools in the country, it was natural to move back. Now, I enjoy having a bit of both worlds, and my husband makes a regular commute to his hybrid job in Gramercy.

Connecticut offers peace, quiet, and natural beauty while still providing easy access to the city for a fun evening out with friends. Many clients I work with share similar life journeys, seeking either Greenwich or New York as their “for-now” home—a concept that reflects the evolving nature of real estate, where the idea of a “forever” home is becoming less common as lifestyles shift and change. It’s not just young professionals moving to the city or families relocating to Greenwich; the path flows both ways. Plenty of empty-nesters are drawn back to the vibrancy of New York, often finding a new home in Greenwich Village—the other Greenwich.

Craig Knows NYC (and Greenwich too)

My family has deep roots in the Greenwich area and I have a decades-long love of Fairfield County, which is partially why I attended Fairfield University. After graduating, I made the decision to move to Manhattan, where I still spend many nights! I have a reverse commute up to Greenwich where I spend most weekdays, and travel back into the city most weekends. After two decades of services and sales in luxury brands, I turned my gaze to the discerning clients of Greenwich.

For me, though I love living in Manhattan, it is a wonderful breath of fresh air to come up to work in Greenwich. I’m not competing with the rush hour on the subway, or crowded lunch lines in midtown. There’s virtually no traffic on the thruway or when I take the train, I have rows of seats to myself. While the Mad-Men era bar cars would make the quiet journey into the city easier, Greenwich has plenty of quaint spots to stop for happy hour to and from the station. It’s also a pleasure to be able to grab a sit down lunch (when not running to showings) at a restaurant where the next table isn’t 6 inches away. I understand the pull of both worlds and lifestyles for our clients. From commuters to long time residents, the citizens of Greenwich and their needs evolve over time. Each person is at a different point in their lives and what worked for one decade might need to change the next, and then change again the next!

The Next Station Is…

The appeal of Greenwich continues to resonate, with bucolic charm and a high quality of life, whether you have lived here for five months, five decades, or are just starting to consider Fairfield County as your home. With housing options for every budget and all stages of life, the convenience and ease of living just under an hour from Manhattan is hard to pass up. Throw in lower taxes, plenty of green space, a tranquil coast line, and peaceful town, who wouldn’t want to live here? And when you are ready to dip your toe back into the Big Apple and add a Manhattan pied a terre to enhance your downsizer lifestyle, TeamJGB is here to point you in the right direction.

Julie Knows Greenwich

Team JGB at Compass 

Julie Grace Burke

jgb@compass.com

203-253-0648