Welcome to New Canaan
A beautiful, affluent community close to New York with scenic views and quality schools
New Canaan is a small town in Connecticut with a rich history and a promising future. Once a sleepy farm town, New Canaan is now a thriving community with a growing tech industry and business center. It is an affluent town that is only one hour from New York City. New Canaan is well-known regionally for its highly regarded public and private preparatory schools, idyllic setting, and sophisticated atmosphere. The community has friendly locals, beautiful architecture, and historic charm.
What to Love
- Luxury homes and amenities
- Close to New York City
- Beautiful views and parks
- Friendly residents and a small-town vibe
- Bustling town center
New Canaan Real Estate Market
New Canaan real estate is in high demand. Contact Cindy Raney & Team of Connecticut real estate agents & realtors to find townhomes, houses, land, luxury property & homes for sale in New Canaan, CT.
Local Lifestyle
Anyone who has been to New Canaan would consider it a highly desirable place to live, with its stunning luxury homes and amenities. It is an ideal place to have a family with access to beautiful nature, excellent schools, charming neighborhoods, and a walkable downtown. The city’s first-rate amenities include private schools, a premier hospital, and a state-of-the-art performance center. Once you move to New Canaan, you will be part of a unique community with a well-educated population, a thriving business sector, and a small-town vibe.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
Rosie New Canaan is located downtown and serves breakfast and lunch in a casual cafe. For plant-based eats, Greenology serves organic tea, coffee, baked goods, juice, smoothies, and breakfast dishes. Tequila Mockingbird is a vibrant dining space that serves authentic Mexican cuisine in an eclectic atmosphere. Spiga Wine Bar is an upscale Italian restaurant known for its handmade pasta, brick oven pizzas, and wide selection of meat and cheese.
New Canaanites also frequent Sole, an Italian restaurant where you can watch the chefs prepare wood-fired pizzas, housemade pasta, and more. Spiga and Sole have healthy competition in the form of Locali, a third Italian restaurant known for its wood-fired pizzas. It is cozy and creative with limited seating.
Uncorked is part of the South End Restaurant Group family of restaurants — a self-described “go-to for townies” serving small plates, brisk brews, and craft cocktails. Farmer’s Table has a minimalist menu reflecting fresh ingredients (all food made to order) and lacking the shortcuts of microwaves or steam tables.
Elm Street is the heart of downtown and the central spot for shops, boutiques, and eateries. Bluemercury is a makeup and skincare store that provides products and consultations with beauty experts. The Whitney Shop, a well known bridal registry spot provides the ultimate gift shop for many locals and out-of-towners. Don’t miss Wave, a trendy jewelry shop that also has clothing and hostess gifts and Togs, another upscale clothing shop that is a favorite of many.
Things to Do
Caffeine & Carburetors is an annual event in New Canaan that gathers car enthusiasts at Zumbach’s Gourmet Coffee to showcase vehicles and take group rides. Village Fair & Sidewalk Sale is a yearly event downtown that features bargain sales, local cuisines, vendors, and family activities. In the summer, don’t miss the Farmer’s Market held every Saturday. Waveny Park has 250 acres, including the Waveny House, walking trails, sports fields, picnic areas, swimming facilities, a disc golf course, open fields, music festivals and a beautiful venue for weddings. A couple of miles north, you can find Mead Memorial Park, a park with facilities for baseball, tennis, and pickleball, a bird sanctuary, and ice skating when the lake is frozen. Grace Farms searches for peace through nature, arts, community, and movement. The farm is 80 acres and has an amphitheater, pavilion, library, shared spaces, and organic café.
Silvermine Arts Center cultivates and encourages individuals to grow and learn through art. The center showcases artists and offers educational opportunities like classes, lessons, and workshops. New Canaan Nature Center is a non-profit that inspires locals to protect and respect nature through educational programs, preschool, and community events. The Country Club of New Canaan is a beautiful private facility that offers luxury dining spaces, sports courts, a swimming pool, and a golf course.
Schools
New Canaan Public Schools is a high-quality public education system that serves the New Canaan community. There are also several private schools in the area.
Public schools:
- East Elementary School, grades K–4
- South Elementary School grades Pre-K-4
- West Elementary School grades Pre-K-4
- Saxe Middle School, grades 5–8
- New Canaan High School, grades 9–12
Private schools: