Connecticut is one of the most charming of all the American states. With a rustic mix of coastal towns and rural havens, there is a lot to love about this area of New England. Unlike many US states, Connecticut has access to the coast; calling all surfers, sand lovers and beach bums! Being on the Atlantic Coast the weather can be harsh at times but when the sun shines over Connecticut it is glorious.
From New Haven to Mystic there is always something to discover in Connecticut. Mystic, for example, is famous for its Seaport museum which houses ancient sailing ships, and the Mystic Aquarium too that houses the Beluga Whales.
So, does Connecticut sound appealing?
Regardless of whether you end up in this part of the world, there are certain baseline requirements that your new homestead must meet. From access to good public schools for those with young children and easy access to commuter routes for those who have to travel to work, there is an awful lot to think about.
Not wanting to make anyone overwhelmed we have created this list of 15 best places to live in Connecticut to give you an idea of what options you have in this great American state.
1. Simsbury
Source: Shanshan0312 / shutterstockSimbury is a suburb of the Connecticut state capital of Hartford. It is not uncommon to find a suburb of the state capital coming in at first place. Home to 23,844 people there is certainly still a city feel out in suburban Simsbury.
The home value here is pretty steep compared with other areas of the country but very much sets the tone for the rest of Connecticut. The average house in Simsbury calls for an investment of $328,600. There are some classic New England style homes in this area so be sure to shop around to find the perfect abode for you, especially given the hefty investment.
With the average household bringing home over $100,000 a year the dearer than average house prices and cost of living are no cause for concern for the present set of residents.
2. New Canaan
Source: barbsimages / shutterstockNew Canaan is a strong contender for being the first best place to live in Connecticut. Despite being firmly within Connecticut state lines New Canaan is classed as a suburb of New York City.
The reason New Canaan does not roll in in the first place is the seven-figure price tag that comes with nearly every home. The average house in New Canaan calls for an investment of $1,332,000! That said, there are humble, cosier homes that require a little TLC coming in under the $800,000 mark. Undoubtedly though, this is an exclusive area.
The schools are all outstanding and income of those who live here mean that everyone lives very comfortably indeed.
3. Old Greenwich
Source: Dougtone / FlickrThis area of New England and Connecticut too calls for a hefty investment should you be seeking to buy property. There is no beating around the bush, Old Greenwich is an affluent area, the average household brings to their $1,400,900 home around $207,000 a year.
If you are seeking a place to raise your family in a safe, clean and frankly upper-class neighbourhood then Old Greenwich is the place for you. Local people describe the area as peaceful and quiet, perfectly close to the beach too.
For those who are looking to rent a flash pad then Old Greenwich is the suburb to which you should head. Although median monthly rent is $2,477 this is well worth it for an ultra-modern condo overlooking the coast.
4. Weatogue
Source: Craig Hallett / FlickrAs a tiny suburb of Hartford and home to only 3,000 people the neighbourhood of Weatogue has a village-like feel. House prices here are far more affordable meaning Weatogue is an accessible rather than aspirational area to live. House prices here are averaging at $324,600, much more within the reach of the average working American.
With that in mind, it will come as a very little surprise to hear that Weatogue is considered to be the best place in Connecticut to buy a house.
Crime in the area is very low, perhaps due to the small population or the neighbourly attitude that they adopt. Families, retirees, and millennials are all welcomed here with open arms.
5. Weston
Source: Dougtone / FlickrWeston is another of our best places to live in Connecticut that is considered to be a suburb of New York City, making it an ideal commuter town. Home to 10,373 people, many who live here do commute into the city for work each day. That said, there are ample job opportunities in the immediate vicinity too, according to locals.
Crime occurs here in Weston once in a blue moon. The area is one of the safest suburbs in Connecticut.
The groups of residents here are diverse and high earners too; the average family has an income of $217,171 each year. Despite this house prices, on average, are still below the one million dollar mark, for now!
6. Avon
Source: Dougtone / FlickrAvon is considered to be one of the best places in Connecticut to buy a home. Being on par with Weatogue you can understand why. Although average house prices fall at $376,500 you really need to have $400,000 available before you start looking at potential homes here.
With median rent at $1,234 on average per month, you can see why only 14% of the 18,000 residents of Avon live in rented accommodation.
You do get outstanding value for money here in Avon. For $479,000 you can invest in a rather stately, double story 4-bedroom home with 3-bathrooms, expansive garden and winding private driveway.
Crime rates across Connecticut are incredibly low and Avon is no exception. Crime seldom occurs and is rarely of major significance.
7. Glastonbury
Source: Dougtone / FlickrGlastonbury is another suburb of Hartford and another suburb on our list to be a real all-rounder. The western border of Glastonbury flows with the meander of the Connecticut River.
This area was founded in 1693 but the first set of settlers arrived in 1636 according to the history books. Houses here in Glastonbury are of the classic New England style and much like in Avon and Weatogue you get good value for money too.
Parents who want their children to attend outstanding public schools would see themselves right to relocate here. It is one of the larger schooling districts in Connecticut and with 46 outstanding schools to choose from you can’t go too far wrong.
8. Ridgefield
Source: Dougtone / FlickrHome to 25,137 the town of Ridgefield can be found in Fairfield County. Although there is a suburban, town like feel to Ridgefield there is a rural feel to it too.
Almost all homes are detached and dotted around the town rather sparsely. Many of the homes on the market at any given time have large gardens, even ground that would make you think you were living in a more countryside environment. The best of both worlds some may argue.
Connecticut is, in fact, one of the safest states in the USA which is a wonderful reassurance for any potential newcomer to know that wherever you choose to lay your cap that crime and nastiness will be far away.
9. Greenwich
Source: James Kirkikis / shutterstockLying just south of Stamford is the suburb of Greenwich, although being home to 62,400 people in many other parts of the world this would be considered a city all of its own.
We’re back into the exclusive New England Connecticut that we have explored a little earlier. Only house prices here are some of our dearest yet; at an average of $1,169,900. Despite rent being $1,800 a month there is a considerable amount of people renting here, 33% of residents in fact.
Being a suburb of New York City it’s safe to assume that many of the residents here are high flying city workers. This assumption is in part proved true when we discover that the average yearly income is $128,153. When you’re earning that kind of money, to spend nearly $2000 on rent each month is no bother at all.
10. Woodbridge
Source: Dougtone / FlickrA far cry from Greenwich in terms of house price is Woodbridge. Although at face value there is still a typical New England feel to the area, being a suburb of New Haven County of course.
In terms of median household income and median home value Woodbridge is a little closer to the national average. The house prices here lie around the $474,500 mark and household income is $133,412; that’s triple the national average so we’re certainly still in Connecticut.
Local people note how they like the family-focused nature of the area and that there are low crime levels particularly due to the fact there are quality schools and facilities for young people to enjoy, keeping them off the streets.
11. West Simsbury
Source: wikipedia.orgWest Simsbury is, as its name and proximity would suggest, very similar to Simsbury itself. The only real difference is the high proportion of residents who live in owned homes; 93% to be exact. With a small population of 2,466, it is a testament to how happy people are here by the fact that they own their homes and aren’t looking to move on.
With that in mind be warned that this is a highly desirable area where idealistic properties come on the market once in a blue moon so be sure to make your decision quickly should your dream home appear here in West Simsbury.
Those who have dogs or are looking to get a family dog then West Simsbury is not only a great place to raise a family but those fury babies too; lots of parks and mapped our trails to explore.
12. Darien
Source: barbsimages / shutterstockDarien lies on Connecticut’s rugged Atlantic coast and is home to 21,392 people. Again, although a suburb of New York City, being fairly far removed from the action Darien feels like its own small town. With New York City centre only 50 minutes away by public transport there are a wealth of job opportunities for anyone who bases themselves in Darien.
Being a suburb of New York City, you’ve guessed it, there’s a hefty price tag to match. You’ll be lucky to get change from $1,279,900 around here. Beautiful homes though, classic New England style, detached with spacious gardens; the American dream some may say.
13. West Hartford
Source: Dan Hanscom / shutterstockWest Hartford is a charming and affordable suburb of the state capital. Affordable compared to Darien that is. The median home value here is around $313,500, so far more attainable for the average working family.
This area is very popular with millennials, perhaps due to house prices being at the lower end of the scale for Connecticut.
Local people say that there is a lot to love about this area and that it is an ideal location to situate yourself to raise a family. The town is safe and secure and there are plenty of activities on offer for people of all ages; hiking, swimming, and social clubs to name but a few.
14. Riverside
Source: www.elliman.comRiverside is an incredibly affluent overflow suburb of Greenwich, which itself is a suburb of New York City. You will be hard-pressed to get change from $1m here in Riverside but the properties are majestic, to say the least.
The median household income here is $154,018 so even though many of these properties are bought with mortgages, in the grand scheme of things the costing is water off a duck’s back really.
Riverside is on par with the rest of the state in so many ways, especially public schooling. Parents who want their child to have the best, and let’s face it what parent doesn’t, should seriously consider relocating to Connecticut.
15. Cos Cob
Source: wikimedia.orgCos Cob is a suburb of Greenwich, close to Connecticut’s Atlantic coast. Home to just 6,400 people this cosy neighbourhood is homely and welcoming. Unlike many of our New York City suburbs that we have discussed, Cos Cob has an average house price with six, rather than seven, figures.
The median home value here is $930,100 and there are plenty of properties on the market at any given time for under $800,000, for sure.
Given the small population the school district is small too, only 7 schools on offer but in true Connecticut style, they are outstanding, to say the least.