The Gold Coast is a region of the state of Connecticut roughly contiguous with the boundaries of Fairfield County; it derives its regional nickname from Fairfield County being ranked as one of the wealthiest counties in the United States, if not the wealthiest. Much of its economy and population are dependant on the region's close proximity to New York City. The Gold Coast is considered to be part of the New York metropolitan area.
The region, as befits its name, is known for having some of the wealthiest towns and neighborhoods in the country. These towns include New Canaan, Greenwich, Westport , Darien and Weston. The region has been portrayed numerous times in popular culture as a wealthy bastion of conformity, immorality, or anomie, most notably in The Stepford Wives and The Ice Storm.
In contrast with its well-known wealth, the Gold Coast also features one of the poorest cities in the United States -- the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut. The Gold Coast remains a region of marked income extremes, exacerbated by many middle-class residents moving out of the region because of the high cost of living.
