Best places to live in Connecticut (2026)

All 16 ranked places in Connecticut, by all-round score.

Ranked by an all-round score: the average of all 14 quality scores (housing costs, taxes, jobs, healthcare, education, family life, safety, natural disasters, climate and more), weighted equally. Places missing from the FBI crime table are left out, since their safety is unknown. Scores are out of 100.

1. 1Milford, CTSuburb · 3-bed $524k · very safe66
2. 2Norwalk, CTSuburb · 3-bed $716k · very safe65
3. 3Stamford, CTSuburb · 3-bed $799k · very safe64
4. 4West Haven, CTSuburb · 3-bed $383k · very safe64
5. 5Shelton, CTSuburb · 3-bed $551k · very safe63
6. 6West Hartford, CTSmall city · 3-bed $474k · very safe62
7. 7New Haven, CTSmall city · 3-bed $352k · higher crime61
8. 8Middletown, CTSmall city · 3-bed $387k · very safe60
9. 9Bristol, CTSmall city · 3-bed $363k · very safe60
10. 10Meriden, CTSmall city · 3-bed $350k · very safe60
11. 11East Hartford, CTSmall city · 3-bed $321k · very safe58
12. 12Bridgeport, CTSuburb · 3-bed $400k · moderate crime57
13. 13Danbury, CTSuburb · 3-bed $525k · very safe55
14. 14New Britain, CTSmall city · 3-bed $318k · safe54
15. 15Waterbury, CTSuburb · 3-bed $308k · safe54
16. 16Hartford, CTMid-size city · 3-bed $272k · higher crime52

Cheapest places to live in Connecticut

Ranked by the typical value of a 3-bedroom home (Zillow), lowest first.

1. 1Hartford, CTMid-size city · rent $2,240/mo · cost of living 103$272k
2. 2Waterbury, CTSuburb · rent $2,210/mo · cost of living 100$308k
3. 3New Britain, CTSmall city · rent $2,240/mo · cost of living 103$318k
4. 4East Hartford, CTSmall city · rent $2,240/mo · cost of living 103$321k
5. 5Meriden, CTSmall city · rent $2,430/mo · cost of living 100$350k

Safest places to live in Connecticut

Ranked by violent crimes per resident in FBI 2019 data, lowest first. Places missing from the FBI table are left out.

1. 1Milford, CTSuburb · violent crime 0.1× the US rate53 per 100k
2. 2Shelton, CTSuburb · violent crime 0.1× the US rate53 per 100k
3. 3West Hartford, CTSmall city · violent crime 0.2× the US rate57 per 100k
4. 4Middletown, CTSmall city · violent crime 0.2× the US rate83 per 100k
5. 5Bristol, CTSmall city · violent crime 0.2× the US rate88 per 100k

Safest places from natural disasters in Connecticut

Ranked by our natural disaster score: FEMA's expected deaths, injuries and home damage from 18 hazards, plus federally declared disasters in the county since 2000.

1. 1New Britain, CT7 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding85
2. 2East Hartford, CT7 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding83
3. 3West Hartford, CT7 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding82
4. 4Hartford, CT7 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding81
5. 5Danbury, CT11 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, hurricanes78

Best places to live for families in Connecticut

Ranked by a family score: the average of our Kids & family, Safety, Education and Affordable housing scores. Places missing from the FBI crime table are left out.

1. 1West Hartford, CTSmall city · kids good · safety excellent · 3-bed $474k72
2. 2Shelton, CTSuburb · kids good · safety excellent · 3-bed $551k70
3. 3Milford, CTSuburb · kids average · safety excellent · 3-bed $524k68
4. 4Middletown, CTSmall city · kids average · safety excellent · 3-bed $387k67
5. 5Bristol, CTSmall city · kids average · safety excellent · 3-bed $363k64

Best places to live · Cheapest places to live · Safest places to live · Safest places from natural disasters · Best places to live for families

Data: US Census, Zillow, HUD, BEA, FBI 2019, FEMA, NOAA, NASA, CMS, NCES and others. How scores work.