Milford CT, 06460, is a coastal city in southwestern New Haven county, on Long Island Sound, between Bridgeport and New Haven, CT. Milford may be a city, but it has less urban scenery and more of a suburban vibe. It’s appropriately known as a “small city with a big heart”.
Milford is one of Connecticut’s oldest communities, founded in 1639 and the old time charm is still very evident in everyday life here. The city has a total area of 26.1 square miles, 22.2 square miles of land and 3.9 square miles of water. You will also find over 14 miles of shorelines facing Long Island Sound, more than any other town in CT. Milford has a population of approximately 54,000 people and includes the incorporated borough of Woodmont and the unincorporated village of Devon. Fun fact, Milford was one of the early settlements in south central CT and, over time, gave rise to several new towns that broke off and incorporated separately. Those towns include Woodbridge, Bethany, Orange and West Haven.
There are so many wonderful reasons to fall in love with this city, but the one that stands out the most is the close proximity to everything you could need, such as water/beaches, hills, cities, lakes and nightlife. You can also enjoy easy access to I-95 and U.S. RT. 1, Wilbur Cross Parkway as well as a Metro-North station stop in downtown Milford Station making NYC commutable.
At first glance, you might expect to find standard beach bungalows scattered throughout the area, but this city offers a huge variety of housing options. Among Milford houses for sale, you can expect to find saltboxes, colonials and Victorians from the 17th through 20th centuries, mixed with ranches and split level homes from the 1950’s-60’s. Condominiums are available at the beach and in the downtown areas. Within the gorgeous Historic District , along Wepewaug River, there are 65 architecturally significant homes, and in the north, zoned for minimum one acre lots, a more back country atmosphere prevails.
The natural beauty of the area is truly something to behold! The beach resort quality of this city lives on. Milford real estate is near five public beaches with lifeguard services and free access for residents. Gulf Beach, Anchor Beach, Hawley Ave Beach, Middle Beach and Silver Sands Beach (as well as 7 private beaches). There is a newly built ¾ mile boardwalk that connects Silver Sands to Walnut Beach. Charles Island (which is rumored to be the home of long ago buried pirate treasure) is part of Silver Sands and is a protected bird nesting ground. There is also a sand bar that’s accessible during low tide that you can walk on from Silver Sands Beach to Charles Island. Milford Harbor gives you access to boating with a public boat launch.
So, there you have it, the scenery is breathtaking and accessible for everyone and I bet you’re wondering if that’s where the fun stops. In addition to the long shoreline is a wealth of activities! The downtown area around the town green has many restaurants, bars and coffee houses to choose from and has become quite the spot for nightlife in recent years. Every year, on the third Sunday in August, Milford celebrates it’s annual Oyster Festival in the form of a street fair. This is an incredible town fair/culinary celebration of the towns historically shellfish-rich location on Long Island Sound.
If you are looking for more activities, you won’t have to look far. A few of my favorite local places that are absolute “must see” spots are, the Firehouse Art Gallery, CT Audubon Society Coastal Center at Milford, Charles Island, the many shopping options along Boston Post Road/CT Post Mall. The Walnut Beach Concert Series takes place under the pavilion at Walnut Beach, featuring different bands playing every Sunday afternoon through the summer.
This quintessential New England town seems to offer the best of everything with so many varieties of homes, activities, clean open outdoor spaces, low crime and good schools. The average classroom in Milford has 11 students per teacher and spends approximately $19,445 per student (national average is $12,383). The local people describe the schools as being staffed by dedicated staff members with lots of parent involvement and quality education with a diverse mix of teaching styles and children.
If you’re considering making Milford real estate your future home, I highly suggest spending some time strolling around the town green and talking to locals, you certainly won’t be disappointed and you’ll most certainly leave with some new found friendships!
Thinking of buying or selling Milford real estate?
Last Updated on September 12, 2017 by Minna Reid