The year-round population of roughly 10,000 skews older, with a median age of 52, compared with the statewide median of 41. “It’s a place where middle-class people built cottages generations ago and left them to their kids,” said Bart Gullong, 75, who grew up in Old Saybrook, as did his father. And as people retire, they live in them year-round.”The broad avenue that is Main Street is lined with restaurants, shops and specialty markets. Big-box stores and car dealerships dot Route 1, which cuts east-west through town. Residents pay taxes to the town and the borough, which strictly monitors changes to properties in its historic district and limits the times when construction and yard maintenance may be done.

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Persons: “, ”, Bart Gullong, Fenwick Locations: Old Saybrook, Saybrook, Fenwick