Real Estate Investing in Darien, Connecticut (06820)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Fairfield County • Population: 21,683 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 06820 (Darien, CT)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (52/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 37.4 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Darien, CT (06820)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $2,468,414
Avg Monthly Rent $5,500
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $250,001
% Renters 15.3%

Market Analysis: 06820 Darien

From an investor standpoint, ZIP 06820 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $2.5M median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Stepping back, the numbers look inviting — $2.5M purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 06820 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Within CT, ZIP 06820 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Fairfield County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and robust enough to shape underwriting.

Employment concentration in 06820 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Strategy in 06820 is an operator game, not a passive one. From an investor standpoint, entry prices of $2.5M are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Darien:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 61/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 9.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+15.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $5,500/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
37 days
Average time to sell
Average
6.7%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 06820

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
3.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+11.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$479,036/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $708,091 $2,940 3.0% +8.4% $708,091
2BR $1,007,939 $3,530 2.5% +8.6% $503,970
3BR $1,437,107 $4,300 2.2% +10.0% $479,036
4BR $2,110,962 $4,790 1.6% +11.2% $527,741
5BR $3,392,195 +11.3% $678,439

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$2.6M$2.3M$2.0M$1.7M$1.4M$1.1MJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$5,564$5,402$5,240$5,078$4,916$4,755Mar 2025Nov 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 06820 Compare?

Metric 06820 Darien Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT Connecticut
Home Value $2,468,414 $2,468,414 N/A $425,784
5-Year CAGR 10.4% 10.4% N/A 9.3%
Avg Rent $5,500 $5,500 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.7% 1.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 06820? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 06820 (Darien, CT). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Fairfield County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Plaza Realty & Management Corporation focuses on excellence by association. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+10.4%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $2,468,414
Monthly Rent $5,500
Price-to-Rent 37.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.7%
Cap Rate 1.7%
5-Year IRR 12.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +15.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +11.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +10.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +4.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.7%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
5.4%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+10.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 06820

Population: 21,683

💰 Median Household Income
$250,001
This area
$250,001
State
$105,835
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
15.3%
This area
15.3%
State
26.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.4%
This area
3.4%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
85.1%
This area
85.1%
State
27.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.5 years
This area
39.5 years
State
29.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.4%
This area
5.4%
State
10.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 83.5%
Other/Mixed 8.3%
Asian 6.7%
Hispanic/Latino 5.0%
Black/African American 1.5%
👶 Under 18
31.5%
This area
31.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
12.9%
This area
12.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.1%
This area
3.1%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 06820

A+ Avg School Grade
7 Schools
11.3:1 Avg Class Size
$33,477 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Hindley Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
420 Students
👨‍🏫
10.3:1 Class Size
💰
$33,477 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Royle Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
331 Students
👨‍🏫
9.0:1 Class Size
💰
$33,477 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Tokeneke Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
428 Students
👨‍🏫
11.1:1 Class Size
💰
$33,477 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Holmes Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
430 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$33,477 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Ox Ridge Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
598 Students
👨‍🏫
13.3:1 Class Size
💰
$33,477 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Darien High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,398 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$33,477 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Middlesex Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
1,047 Students
👨‍🏫
9.8:1 Class Size
💰
$33,477 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Brookside Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 382 Highland Avenue, Norwalk
👥
398 Students
👨‍🏫
11.4:1 Class Size
💰
$27,445 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Dolan School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 51 Toms Rd., Stamford
👥
591 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$26,248 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Roton Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 201 Highland Avenue, Norwalk
👥
453 Students
👨‍🏫
11.1:1 Class Size
💰
$27,445 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Rowayton School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 1 Roton Avenue, Norwalk
👥
435 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$27,445 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Toquam Magnet School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 123 Ridgewood Ave., Stamford
👥
549 Students
👨‍🏫
11.1:1 Class Size
💰
$26,248 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

5 Nearby 26 Off-Campus Students
C+
University of Connecticut-Stamford
2,240 students · 3.5 mi
B
SUNY at Purchase College
3,229 students · 11.7 mi
C
Manhattanville College
2,379 students · 12.6 mi
B
Fairfield University
6,289 students · 13.0 mi
C
Center for Ultrasound Research & Education
35 students · 14.2 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the median home value in Darien, CT?

In Darien, CT the median home value sits at $2.5M. Against the broader CT market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

What real estate strategy is ideal for Darien, CT?

Most investors in Darien, CT run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 3.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

What is the tenant pool like in Darien, CT?

The renter base in Darien, CT is reasonable for the $5,500/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields steady tenants.

Can I live-in-and-rent in Darien, CT?

The a tougher house-hack environment in Darien, CT reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

Is Darien in CT worth investing in?

Yes - Darien, CT a 3.0/5 investability score. With $2.5M home prices against $5,500/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

You know 06820 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 06820 ranks in Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

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