6 refreshing houses in Connecticut coastal towns
Featuring a restored Queen Anne Victorian in Fairfield and wraparound deck in Madison

Branford
Belden Island is part of the Thimble archipelago in Branford's Stony Creek harbor. The property includes a circa-1912, fully furnished four-bedroom house with original hardwood floors and wainscoting, stone fireplace and country kitchen with butler's pantry.
The island is irrigated, solar-powered and walled in native pink granite, and includes 2 acres of shellfish beds, a big lawn, trees and a dock; the mainland is seven minutes by regular ferry. $2,750,000. Kiara Rusconi, William Raveis Real Estate/ Luxury Portfolio International, (860) 573-3382.
Fairfield
This restored Queen Anne Victorian in Stratfield Village is a 10 minute drive from Seaside Beach and 30 minutes from New Haven. The 1907 five-bedroom house has rich period details, including two ornate fireplaces, a parlor, dining and living rooms and award-winning chef's kitchen with copper and slate counters, tin ceiling and floor-to-ceiling oak cabinetry accessed by a library ladder.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Outside are a wraparound porch, lawns, trees, and perennial, vegetable and herb gardens. $1,195,000. Pam Foarde, William Raveis Real Estate/ Luxury Portfolio International, (203) 257-9110.
Madison
The wraparound deck and many of the rooms of this waterfront home offer generous ocean views. Built in 1900 and entirely rebuilt in 2021, the five-bedroom house features a shake-clad exterior, mansard roof, coffered ceilings, chef's kitchen, walk-in pantry, formal dining room and living room with oversize windows and fireplace.
The grassy lot is steps from a sandy beach, five minutes from the town center and two hours from Manhattan. $5,250,000. Loretta Walz, Coldwell Banker Realty, (203) 619-4029.
Guilford
Leetes Island's Pelatiah Leete House sits on a hill overlooking Shell Beach lagoon. Built circa 1710 and on the National Register of Historic Places, the restored American chestnut post-and-beam, two-bedroom saltbox has four fireplaces, original wood floors and built-ins; modern kitchen and bathroom with soaker tub; living, dining and family rooms; library; attic; and attached garage.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The property is landscaped with lawns, hedges, flower beds, gravel paths and a stone patio. $975,000. Carol Mancini, William Pitt Sotheby's International Realty, (203) 710-6405.
Groton
This 1928 cedar-shingled beach house on Groton Long Point's boardwalk is steps from sand and sea. The updated four-bedroom home features wood paneling, floors and cabinets; oversize windows; open main floor including dining and living areas, wood-burning stone fireplace, and gourmet kitchen with eat-in island; and primary suite with sunroom-office.
Outside are an ocean-facing covered deck, patio and landscaped yard; Mystic is a 20-minute drive and Boston about two hours. $2,750,000. Katie O'Leary, Gay Tyler Gallagher Real Estate, (860) 961-4357.
Norwalk
The river and harbor are just blocks from this 1982 condominium in South Norwalk. The renovated two-story, two-bedroom loft has an open layout, double-height ceilings, wood floors, a wood-burning stove with brick surround, a spiral staircase, a chef's kitchen, a primary-suite bath with terrazzo walls and slate floor, an office and an in-unit laundry.
Dining, shopping and the train are walking distance; ocean beaches are eight minutes' drive and midtown Manhattan is an hour. $550,000. Max Dober, Keller Williams Prestige Properties, (203) 767-2486.
This article was first published in the latest issue of The Week magazine. If you want to read more like it, you can try six risk-free issues of the magazine here.
-
At home with the Clooneys: is arguing with your partner healthy?
The actor and his wife claim to have never argued during their 10-year marriage
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK
-
Quiz of The Week: 19 - 25 April
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By The Week Staff
-
The Week Unwrapped: Why was Pope Francis controversial in Argentina?
Podcast Plus, could marriage increase your risk of dementia? And what is the true cost of that viral pistachio chocolate?
By The Week UK
-
Geri Halliwell-Horner shares her favourite books
The Week Recommends Former Spice Girl chooses works by Oscar Wilde, Maggie O'Farrell and Philippa Gregory
By The Week UK
-
6 peaceful homes in farm country
Feature Featuring a two-story solarium in California and a three-season screened porch in Wisconsin
By The Week US
-
Ghosts: a 'scorching' retelling of Ibsen's scandalous tale
The Week Recommends Gary Owen's modern revamp of the classic play is a 'cracker'
By The Week UK
-
Holy Cow: a charming 'micro-budget' film about Comté
The Week Recommends First-time director Louise Courvoisier elicits 'brilliant performances' from her non-professional cast
By The Week UK
-
The Story of Murder: a 'thoughtful' fictional retelling of a true crime story
The Week Recommends Hallie Rubenhold novel delivers belated justice to the victim of a 1910 London murder
By The Week UK
-
Film reviews: Sinners and The King of Kings
Feature Vampires lay siege to a Mississippi juke joint and an animated retelling of Jesus' life
By The Week US
-
Music reviews: Bon Iver, Valerie June, and The Waterboys
Feature "Sable, Fable," "Owls, Omens, and Oracles," "Life, Death, and Dennis Hopper"
By The Week US
-
Susan Page's 6 favorite books about historical figures who stood up to authority
Feature The USA Today's Washington bureau chief recommends works by Catherine Clinton, Alexei Navalny, and more
By The Week US