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Suburban Jungle

"Neither of us really wanted to live in the suburbs," he said. They came across Suburban Jungle while attending a baby industry event last May and spent an hour and a half on the phone with a consultant who sent them town reports on Harrison and Rye in Westchester County and Darien and Greenwich in Fairfield County.

"They could tell us more than a broker is legally allowed to tell us," Mr. Allen said. "Because they were moms living there with their kids," he added, the strategists not only knew which areas were zoned for good public middle schools, "they knew which roads you don't want to live on because the traffic is heavy." He added, "It was like getting an insider's perspective."

After ruling out Westchester because of high taxes, they narrowed their search to Old Greenwich for its "proper Main Street," good schools and proximity to the water.

"We weren't sure where we wanted to live, and they were really helpful in narrowing it down," said Amanda Allen, 33. Ms. Allen moved to Old Greenwich, Conn., from Manhattan earlier this month with her husband, Edward, 42, who works in finance, and Grayson, their 2-year-old son.

After selling their one-bedroom co-op in Greenwich Village about a year ago, the Allens, who are expecting their second child in May, had hoped to use the profit to buy a larger apartment in the city. "About a year ago we put in a bid for a two-bedroom," said Mr. Allen. "It went for $350,000 over ask." In the meantime, they rented a two-bedroom near Lincoln Center.

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