Best counties to raise a family in Connecticut
For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Connecticut using data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you'll find one that suits your brood.
#8. Windham County, Connecticut
- Population: 116,503
- Median home value: $217,300 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,019 (31% own)
- Median household income: $71,418
- Top public schools: Chaplin Elementary School (grade B+), Parish Hill High School (grade B+), Pomfret Community School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Pomfret School (grade A+), Marianapolis Preparatory School (grade A+), Putnam Science Academy (grade A minus)
- Top places to live: Pomfret (grade B), South Woodstock (grade B), Woodstock (grade B)
#7. Litchfield County, Connecticut
- Population: 185,175
- Median home value: $270,000 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,114 (24% own)
- Median household income: $84,797
- Top public schools: Booth Free School (grade A), Washington Primary School (grade A), Kent Center School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Hotchkiss School (grade A+), Kent School (grade A+), The Taft School (grade A+)
- Top places to live: Washington (grade A minus), Bridgewater (grade B+), Litchfield (grade B+)
#6. Tolland County, Connecticut
- Population: 150,120
- Median home value: $264,500 (70% own)
- Median rent: $1,238 (30% own)
- Median household income: $88,525
- Top public schools: Dorothy C. Goodwin School (grade A), E.O. Smith High School (grade A), Andover Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Oak Grove Montessori School (grade unavailable), Mt. Hope Montessori School (grade unavailable), Hans Christian Andersen Montessori School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Mansfield Center (grade A), South Coventry (grade A minus), Coventry Lake (grade A minus)
#5. New Haven County, Connecticut
- Population: 864,751
- Median home value: $259,400 (62% own)
- Median rent: $1,223 (38% own)
- Median household income: $75,043
- Top public schools: Daniel Hand High School (grade A), Amity Middle School: Bethany (grade A), Guilford High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Choate Rosemary Hall (grade A+), Hopkins School (grade A+), Hamden Hall Country Day School (grade A+)
- Top places to live: Downtown (grade A+), Orange (grade A+), Westville (grade A)
#4. Middlesex County, Connecticut
- Population: 164,568
- Median home value: $298,300 (74% own)
- Median rent: $1,222 (26% own)
- Median household income: $90,833
- Top public schools: Essex Elementary School (grade A), Chester Elementary School (grade A), Old Saybrook Senior High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Xavier High School (grade A), The Oxford Academy (grade A), Mercy High School (grade A)
- Top places to live: Higganum (grade A), Essex (grade A minus), Saybrook Manor (grade A minus)
#3. New London County, Connecticut
- Population: 269,131
- Median home value: $257,600 (67% own)
- Median rent: $1,192 (33% own)
- Median household income: $79,040
- Top public schools: Marine Science Magnet High School of Southeastern Connecticut (grade A+), East Lyme High School (grade A), Lillie B. Haynes School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Williams School (grade A+), Academy of the Holy Family (grade A+), St. Thomas More School (grade A)
- Top places to live: Noank (grade A+), Mystic (grade A+), Long Hill (grade A)
#2. Hartford County, Connecticut
- Population: 898,636
- Median home value: $249,000 (65% own)
- Median rent: $1,191 (35% own)
- Median household income: $80,320
- Top public schools: Avon High School (grade A+), Farmington High School (grade A+), Glastonbury High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Miss Porter's School (grade A+), Suffield Academy (grade A+)
- Top places to live: West Hartford (grade A+), Weatogue (grade A+), Glastonbury Center (grade A+)
#1. Fairfield County, Connecticut
- Population: 956,446
- Median home value: $443,100 (67% own)
- Median rent: $1,593 (33% own)
- Median household income: $101,194
- Top public schools: Staples High School (grade A+), New Canaan High School (grade A+), Darien High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Greenwich Academy (grade A+), King School (grade A+), Pierrepont School (grade A+)
- Top places to live: Newfield (grade A+), Riverside (grade A+), Old Greenwich (grade A+)
