How one NYC family discovered their perfect suburban match in Connecticut
When Lauren Schwartz and her husband, Evan, started thinking about life outside of Manhattan, they already had a plan in mind – and that plan was, without question, leading them to New Jersey. It made sense – with family and friends in New Jersey, finding the right suburb nearby felt like the obvious choice. And even though they weren’t ready to make a move yet, Evan still reached out to Suburban Jungle.
“I was annoyed with him,” Lauren laughs. “I was like, ‘Why are you setting this up already? We’re not ready. We’re not going anywhere anytime soon.’”
But even so, the couple connected with Patti Natiss, Suburban Jungle’s Head of National Strategy and Emerging Markets. From there, what was supposed to be an exploratory conversation quickly became something more – and a new life in Westport, CT.
How Keeping an Open Mind Changed Everything
At the beginning of their search, Lauren and Evan had a clear list of priorities for their future town. They wanted A+ schools, an easy train commute to New York City, and a strong sense of community. They also wanted to be close to family.
During their initial call, Patti helped them unpack those preferences and other must-haves, narrowing down a list of towns across New Jersey and Connecticut. From there, Patti connected them to Suburban Jungle partner agents in each community.
“I gave Lauren and Evan one very simple piece of advice,” Patti says. “I told them to get out there and start exploring – even if they weren’t looking to make a move right now. As you start touring towns, you start to get a better sense of what you need, what you want, and where you, ultimately, want to be.”
While the couple was still focused on New Jersey, they agreed to check out the Connecticut towns Patti recommended. Lauren hadn’t spent much time in Connecticut and had never seriously considered moving there. But during a visit with friends who recently relocated to Westport, they decided to schedule a town tour – and that decision changed everything.
The Town They Didn’t See Coming
From the moment Lauren and Evan arrived in Westport, something felt different.
“During the tour, my husband and I kept looking at each other and saying, ‘we love it here so much…’”
Westport, she says, offered many of the things they knew they wanted in a suburb, from great restaurants to walkable neighborhoods, and an easy commute to NYC – plus an amazing downtown. But Westport also offered that they didn’t realize what they were looking for. Not only was the town teeming with New England charm, but the couple loved the idea of being so close to the beach – and the parks, playgrounds, and community programming was another amazing perk. Almost immediately, Lauren and Evan could picture themselves strolling through the farmers markets, enjoying the outdoor concerts, and spending summer afternoons relaxing in the sun.
“When we drove through the streets, we were just happy to be there,” Lauren says. And that feeling continued every time they visited.
Doing the Homework
Despite falling in love with Westport, Lauren and Evan weren’t ready to make a decision based on one visit. Over the next few months, they toured communities in New Jersey and Connecticut. They explored neighborhoods, studied school districts, tested commutes, and spent time experiencing what everyday life could look like in each place.
“We’ve probably done more diligence than anyone has ever done,” Lauren says. But the more they explored, the more confident they became in what mattered most to them. By the end of the process, they weren’t making a decision based on assumptions or convenience. They were making a decision based on firsthand experience.
“Nothing made us feel the way Westport did.”
| READ MORE Summer in the Suburbs: Living in Westport, CT The Sweetest Way To Get To Know a Town The First Visit vs. The Second Visit |
Choosing Lifestyle Over Convenience
The hardest part wasn’t finding the right town. It was accepting that the right town wasn’t the one they originally expected. Choosing to live in Westport, CT, meant moving farther from family and managing a slightly longer commute. But when they weighed everything, Lauren and Evan realized what mattered most wasn’t a few extra minutes on a train – it was finding the town where they wanted to spend the next few decades.
And that, for them, was Westport.
“We sacrificed a little bit longer of a commute, but we don’t care,” Lauren says. “The happiness that this town is going to bring us when we’re not working is worth it.”
Looking Ahead
Today, Lauren and Evan are preparing for a very different kind of post-city life than the one they imagined. Their kids are excited for more space, a big backyard, and all the things that come with living in Westport, from beach days to epic playgrounds, new sports teams, and outdoor space that’s theirs. And Lauren and Evan can’t wait to be part of the Westport community.
And in an unexpected twist, their best friends are making the move. After going through the Suburban Jungle process themselves, they decided Westport was the right fit for their family as well. The two families are planning their moves just weeks apart, making the transition that much easier for everyone.
“It’s perfect,” Lauren says. “The kids will already know people!”
The Biggest Lesson Learned
Looking back, Lauren’s advice to city families is this: don’t assume you already know where you belong. Before connecting with Suburban Jungle, she and Evan were convinced they would end up in New Jersey. Touring multiple towns helped them discover what truly mattered to their family – and found the perfect place to call “home.”
“I keep telling everyone I know who’s thinking about leaving the city to call Patti and go through this process,” Lauren says.
By exploring multiple towns side by side, Lauren and Evan gained critical clarity. The experience didn’t just help them find a town, it helped them confidently step into the next chapter of their lives.
Finding Home Where They Least Expected It
What started as a simple exploratory call turned into a major life change Lauren and Evan never could have expected. They didn’t set out looking for Westport – but by keeping an open mind, doing the homework, and trusting what felt right, they found a community that felt like home from the very first tour. Because sometimes the best fit isn’t the one you’ve always planned on. It’s the one you never expected to find.
For more client stories, visit Suburban Jungle’s blog page on our website.
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