Regional Plan of Conservation and Development, 2006-2015

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Regional Plan of Conservation and Development, 2006-2015Table 3.3 – Median Family Income, Adjusted for Inflation: 1990 and 20001990 2000 Percent Change 1990-2000Income Adjustedfor Inflation (1990 Median FamilyPercent ChangeMedian FamilyIncomeIncome in 2000dollars)Income(in 2000 dollars)Percent Changein Family IncomeAdjusted forInflationDarien $ 101,583 133,838 $ 173,777 71.1% 29.8%Greenwich $ 80,558 106,137 $ 122,719 52.3% 15.6%New Canaan $ 109,512 144,284 $ 175,331 60.1% 21.5%Norwalk $ 55,269 72,818 $ 68,219 23.4% -6.3%Stamford $ 57,360 75,573 $ 69,337 20.9% -8.3%Weston $ 115,779 152,541 $ 162,032 39.9% 6.2%Westport $ 95,791 126,207 $ 152,894 59.6% 21.1%Wilton $ 101,156 133,275 $ 158,415 56.6% 18.9%South WesternRegion$ 69,658 91,776 $ 94,228 35.3% 2.7%Fairfield County $ 57,990 76,403 $ 77,690 34.0% 1.7%Connecticut $ 49,199 64,821 $ 65,521 33.2% 1.1%National $ 35,225 46,410 $ 50,046 42.1% 7.8%Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1990 Census of Population and Housing, STF-3; 2000 Census of Population and Housing, Summary File 3; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price IndexInflation Information (http://www.bls.gov/cpi/home.htm).incomes for this sector are higher than data suggest.Those working in office and administrative supportoccupations also saw their incomes increase duringthis period, from an average of $32,960 in 2000 to$35,950 in 2003, an increase of nine percent.IncomeThe 2000 regional median family income of$94,228 was nearly twice the national average andalso significantly exceeded the averages of FairfieldCounty and the state. In the Region’s six towns,median family income grew by between 39.9 percent(in Weston) and 71.1 percent (in Darien) from 1990 to2000. Median family income in 2000 in the Region’s sixtowns ranged from $122,719 in Greenwich to$175,331 in New Canaan. Even when adjusted forinflation, median family incomes in the towns still grewdramatically between 1990 and 2000. Income growthin the cities of Norwalk and Stamford was moremodest, with growth rates of 23.4 percent and 20.9percent, respectively. However, median family incomesin Norwalk and Stamford actually decreased during the1990s when adjusted for inflation.A powerful indicator of the Region’s income levelsis the fact that, in 2003, more than 22 percent of thestate’s income tax revenue came from the Region,which contains only about 10 percent of the state’spopulation (Department of Revenue Services, 2002-2003 Annual Report).Educational AttainmentEducational attainment in the Region exceeds boththe state and national averages. Of those residents age25 and older, 49.4 percent held at least a bachelor’sdegree, compared to 31.4 percent of Connecticutresidents and 24.4 percent of all American adults.Additionally, almost 22 percent of the Region’s adultresidents held a graduate or professional degree,compared to the state and national averages of 13.3percent and 8.9 percent, respectively.Commercial DevelopmentCommercial activity has historically occurred in anetwork of town and city centers throughout theRegion, which were established more than 300 yearsago. These historic centers – from Stamford’s highlyurbanized downtown to Weston’s small commercialcenter – are still clearly defined and remain viabledespite competition from outlying shopping centers,“big box” stores and strip developments. In fact,contrary to the national norm, the Region’s largest15
South Western Regional Planning AgencyTheater and the Performing ArtsPerhaps because the Region is home to a greatmany people in the entertainment industry, there areseveral outstanding theatrical venues, some withinternational reputations. A case in point is theWestport Country Playhouse, a haven for stars ofstage and screen since the 1930s. Other importantvenues include the Stamford Center for the Arts, theNorwalk Concert Hall and the Wilton Playhouse. Inaddition, the Region’s municipalities have robustcommunity theater offerings.mall – the Stamford Town Center – is located in themidst of the most heavily urbanized part of the Region.The Region’s hierarchy of established commercialcenters benefits its residents by providing easy accessto goods and services. Like the 1995 Plan, this Planencourages further development in these establishedcenters at a degree of intensity appropriate to thecharacter of each individual community.Cultural and Educational ResourcesTourismThe Region’s high income levels attracthigh-end retailers like these in Westport.Tourism is an important part of the Region’seconomy. In 2003, tourism brought approximately $1-billion into Fairfield County’s economy and employedas many as 20,000 people. In fact, the promotion oftourism within the Region was listed as a strategy inthe 1995 Plan. The Coastal Fairfield CountyConvention and Visitors Bureau is charged withpromoting tourism in the Region and five othermunicipalities. The Visitors Bureau works with theConnecticut Office of Tourism to both support tourismand track tourist volume and revenues.Museums and Historic LandmarksThe Region is home to many museums andhistoric sites that showcase its culture, history andenvironmental beauty. Among the best known of thesefacilities are the Bruce Museum of Arts and Sciencesin Greenwich, the Stamford Museum and NatureCenter, The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk and theWeir Farm National Historic Site in Wilton, the onlyNational Park Service site in Connecticut.CommunicationsThe Region enjoys extensive media coverage. TheAdvocate, Greenwich Time and The Hour are theprincipal daily newspapers covering the Region,although many residents also read New York Citydailies. The Region’s towns are also served bynumerous weekly newspapers. Households in theRegion are served by network television affiliates inConnecticut, New York or both. Many locally-basedAM and FM radio stations serve the Region, as dostations in New York City, Westchester County, LongIsland and other parts of Connecticut. The Region’scellular network is well developed with coveragevirtually throughout. Home and mobile Internet accessis also common, with numerous public Internet sitesavailable throughout the Region.LibrariesEach municipality in the Region is served by apublic library or library system offering public Internetaccess, youth activities, classes and presentations,and other services. They also participate in an interlibraryloan program. Additionally, holders of locallibrary cards may use other municipal libraries in thestate as well as certain academic libraries.Educational FacilitiesThe Region is home to some of the finest publicand private elementary and secondary schools in thenation. The availability of high-quality schoolsencourages families to stay in the Region and attractsnew families to it. Indeed, between 1990 and 2000, thenumber of school-aged children in the Regionincreased by 17.7 percent (Census 2000), which hasput pressure on local school districts, and theirtaxpayers, to expand existing schools or build newones.Higher and continuing education is offered at theUniversity of Connecticut’s Stamford Campus,Norwalk Community College and through satelliteprograms offered by the University of Bridgeport, the16
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Regional Plan of Conservation and Development, 2006-2015

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