Living in Danbury, CT
Danbury is a city of 88,692 residents in Fairfield County, Connecticut, with a Main Street historic district, a Metro-North terminus, Candlewood Lake and Lake Kenosia.
Danbury at a glance
- Median sale price
- $498,500+6.1% vs last year 712 sales, last 12 months
- Property tax rate
- 25.23 mills town-wide, FY2027
- Estimated yearly tax
- ~$8,800 median-priced home
- Population
- 88,692 2024 Census estimate
- Land area
- 42.0 sq mi 2,110 per sq mi
What it is like in Danbury
Danbury is in the northwest corner of Fairfield County and covers 42.04 square miles. It borders Bethel, New Fairfield, Ridgefield, Brookfield and Redding, and its population is 88,692.
The city is known as Hat City. Hat making became its leading industry after independence, and the last hat factory closed in 1987. The Danbury Museum & Historical Society keeps a hat industry exhibit in the John Dodd Hat Shop on Main Street.
The Main Street Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, is the oldest part of the city. The Danbury Fair began in 1821 as gatherings of the Fairfield Agricultural Society in Elmwood Park, and Fair Week ran each October from the 1870s.
Danbury has a long list of public outdoor places, including Rogers Park, Elmwood Park, Lake Kenosia Park, Hatters Park, Freedom Park and Candlewood Town Park. Candlewood Lake (Lattins Cove) and Lake Kenosia both have boat launches. Richter Park Golf Course is also in the city.
Main Street and White Street hold many of the downtown restaurants, with Ecuadorian, Peruvian, Colombian, Brazilian, Lao and Thai, Mexican and American kitchens listed by CityCenter Danbury. Charter Oak Taproom and Brewing Company on Shelter Rock Road and Elicit Brewing Company on Backus Avenue are the two breweries on our list.
The Danbury Railway Museum occupies the former Union Station and runs rail yard train rides on weekends from April to November. The Danbury Museum & Historical Society is at 43 Main Street.
Getting around from Danbury
| Drive to | Time | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Hartford | 74 min | 58 |
| New Haven | 61 min | 38 |
| Stamford | 55 min | 32 |
| New York City (Midtown) | 94 min | 65 |
| Boston | 197 min | 159 |
| Providence | 171 min | 134 |
| Bradley Airport (BDL) | 99 min | 73 |
Rail stations nearby
- Danbury 1.5 mi Metro-North
- Bethel 3.5 mi Metro-North
- Redding 5.6 mi Metro-North
Highways and routes
Interstate 84 crosses the city, and the Danbury Fair Mall is reached from Exit 3. Drive times from Danbury are 55 minutes to Stamford (32 miles), 61 minutes to New Haven (38 miles), 74 minutes to Hartford (58 miles) and 94 minutes to Midtown Manhattan (65 miles). Bradley Airport is 99 minutes away (73 miles).
Danbury station (Metro-North) is 1.5 miles away in a straight line. Bethel station (3.5 miles) and Redding station (5.6 miles) also have Metro-North service.
Schools in Danbury
20 public schools in Danbury School District and Connecticut Technical Education and Career System. Which one serves an address depends on the district, so confirm with them.
Elementary 14
- DPS Early Childhood Center
- Ellsworth Avenue
- Great Plain
- Hayestown Avenue
- King Street Intermediate
- King Street Primary
- Mill Ridge Primary
- Morris Street
Show 6 more
- Park Avenue
- Pembroke
- Shelter Rock
- South Street
- Stadley Rough
- Western CT Academy of International Studies Elementary Magne
Middle 3
- Broadview
- Rogers Park
- Westside Middle School Academy
High school 2
- Danbury High School
- Henry Abbott Technical High School
Other 1
- DPS Early Childhood Center at Granville
Grades, number of students. Hover a school for its address.
For report cards, enrollment trends and spending per student, look up Danbury School District and Connecticut Technical Education and Career System on the state's EdSight site.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data. We do not rate or rank schools.
Eat, drink and explore in Danbury
Open Danbury in Google Maps →Eat and drink 11
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Craft brewery with a taproom and biergarten, open Thursday through Sunday.
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Mexican restaurant on White Street with an online ordering menu.
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Brewery in Danbury Square Plaza combining house-brewed beer, a food hall and an event space.
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Peruvian restaurant on Main Street.
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Barbecue restaurant serving smoked brisket, pulled pork and ribs.
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Diner on White Street with a menu that includes pancakes and milkshakes, plus catering.
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Bakery and cafe on Main Street serving pastries, cakes and a range of cafe food, with catering.
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Rotisserie chicken (pollo a la brasa) restaurant on Main Street, with beer on tap.
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American restaurant on Old Mill Plain Road decorated with items from the Danbury Fair.
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Pizzeria on White Street serving thin-crust pizza, paninis and salads.
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Lao and Thai restaurant on White Street, closed Mondays.
Things to do and see 2
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Local history museum on Main Street with a hat industry exhibit in the John Dodd Hat Shop.
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Railway museum in the former Union Station with restored rolling stock and weekend rail yard train rides in season.
Parks, preserves and trails 30
Show 16 more parks and conservation parcels
Parks and open space © OpenStreetMap contributors. Places to eat and visit last checked October 2026. These are not paid placements; they are simply our selection. Hours and menus change, so check before you go.
Danbury housing market
Over the last 12 months, 712 homes sold in Danbury with a median sale price of $498,500 and a median of 25 days on market. There are 165 homes for sale right now.
Homes sold for a median of $282 per square foot. The typical home sold for 100% of its list price, and the median sale price is up 6.1% from the year before. At the current pace of sales, the homes for sale would last about 2.8 months.
Danbury's town-wide property tax rate is 25.23 mills (FY2027). Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value, so a median-priced home pays roughly $8,800 a year. Special taxing districts, such as fire districts, can add to this, and a home's actual assessment may differ from its sale price.
Source: SmartMLS, residential sales (single-family, condo and multi-family); mill rates: Connecticut Office of Policy and Management. Updated November 10, 2026.
Homes for sale in Danbury
See all 165 →
Know before you move
Official and independent sources worth bookmarking if you are considering Danbury.
Questions about Danbury
What is the median home price in Danbury, CT?
The median sale price in Danbury is $498,500, based on 712 home sales in the last 12 months (SmartMLS). Updated November 10, 2026.
What is the property tax rate in Danbury, CT?
Danbury's town-wide property tax rate is 25.23 mills (fiscal year 2027). Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value, so a median-priced home pays roughly $8,800 a year. Special taxing districts can add to this.
How far is Danbury, CT from Hartford?
Danbury is about 58 miles and a 74-minute drive from downtown Hartford, measured from the town center without traffic.
How far is Danbury, CT from New York City?
Danbury is about 65 miles from Midtown Manhattan, roughly a 94-minute drive without traffic.
Is there a train station in Danbury, CT?
The closest passenger rail station we have on record is Danbury (Metro-North) about 1.5 miles from the center of Danbury. Check the operator's schedule for current service.
What is the population of Danbury, CT?
Danbury has about 88,692 residents (U.S. Census Bureau estimate, 2024) and covers 42.0 square miles.
How many public schools are in Danbury, CT?
Danbury has 20 public schools in Danbury School District and Connecticut Technical Education and Career System. Which school serves an address depends on the district's boundaries, so confirm with the district.
How many homes are for sale in Danbury, CT?
There are 165 homes for sale in Danbury right now, per SmartMLS, as of November 10, 2026.
Is there a train station in Danbury?
Yes. Danbury station has Metro-North service, and Bethel and Redding stations are also nearby.
How far is Danbury from New York City?
It is 65 miles and about 94 minutes by car to Midtown Manhattan.
What towns border Danbury?
Bethel, New Fairfield, Ridgefield, Brookfield and Redding.
Why is Danbury called Hat City?
Hat making was the city's leading industry from after independence until the last hat factory closed in 1987.
Where can I get on the water in Danbury?
Candlewood Lake (Lattins Cove) and Lake Kenosia both have boat launches.
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Towns that border Danbury
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