Best suburbs to live in Connecticut

Written by:
April 3, 2024
Canetti // Shutterstock

Best suburbs to live in Connecticut

Cities may have the nightlife, but the convenience and affordability of the suburbs are becoming hot as the millennial generation moves into its homebuying phase. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic shook up workplace norms and superheated the housing market, folks have been flocking away from major urban centers.

In Colorado, for instance, lesser-known suburbs outside of Denver such as Boulder have become magnets for young parents, ranking among the biggest destinations for out-of-state millennials who chose to move in 2023. And companies are taking note of the trend as well: Many are establishing satellite offices and new headquarters in less urban areas.

Stacker compiled a list of the best suburbs to live in Connecticut using data from Niche's 2024 Best Places to Live. Niche ranks places to live based on an array of factors, including the cost of living, educational level of residents, housing costs, and quality of schools.

You may also like: Connecticut small businesses thrive in these counties
1 / 30
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#30. East Granby, Connecticut

- Overall Rank: 2,232
- Population: 5,148
- Median household income: $112,857
- Median home value: $289,200 (78% own)
- Median rent: $1,089 (22% rent)
- Top public schools: Allgrove School (grade A), Academy of Aerospace & Engineering (grade A minus), Tariffville School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Suffield Academy (grade A+), Westminster School (grade A+)
2 / 30
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#29. Rocky Hill, Connecticut

- Overall Rank: 1,926
- Population: 20,682
- Median household income: $86,410
- Median home value: $275,600 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,579 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: West Hill School (grade A), Rocky Hill High School (grade A), Academy of Aerospace & Engineering (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Choate Rosemary Hall (grade A+), The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Miss Porter's School (grade A+)
3 / 30
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#28. Byram, Connecticut

- Overall Rank: 1,911
- Population: 5,285
- Median household income: $92,500
- Median home value: $853,500 (37% own)
- Median rent: $2,489 (63% rent)
- Top public schools: Greenwich High School (grade A+), Glenville School (grade A), Central Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Rye Country Day School (grade A+), French-American School of New York (grade A+), Hackley School (grade A+)
4 / 30
Stuart Monk // Shutterstock

#27. Newington, Connecticut

- Overall Rank: 1,904
- Population: 30,458
- Median household income: $100,239
- Median home value: $266,200 (78% own)
- Median rent: $1,401 (22% rent)
- Top public schools: Webster Hill School (grade A), Academy of Aerospace & Engineering (grade A minus), Moser School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Miss Porter's School (grade A+), Avon Old Farms School (grade A+)
5 / 30
Jacek Chabraszewski // Shutterstock

#26. Collinsville, Connecticut

- Overall Rank: 1,841
- Population: 3,750
- Median household income: $101,336
- Median home value: $367,400 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,530 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Canton High School (grade A), Canton Intermediate School (grade A minus), Cherry Brook Primary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Miss Porter's School (grade A+), Avon Old Farms School (grade A+), Westminster School (grade A+)
You may also like: The biggest health care data breaches you should know about in Connecticut
6 / 30
imtmphoto // Shutterstock

#25. Granby, Connecticut

- Overall Rank: 1,723
- Population: 10,971
- Median household income: $115,989
- Median home value: $310,200 (92% own)
- Median rent: $1,292 (8% rent)
- Top public schools: Canton High School (grade A), Academy of Aerospace & Engineering (grade A minus), Canton Intermediate School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Suffield Academy (grade A+), Westminster School (grade A+)
7 / 30
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#24. Milford City, Connecticut

- Overall Rank: 1,671
- Population: 50,664
- Median household income: $104,503
- Median home value: $361,900 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,783 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Joseph A. Foran High School (grade A minus), West Shore Middle School (grade A minus), Jonathan Law High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Hopkins School (grade A+), Hamden Hall Country Day School (grade A+), Bridgeport International Academy (grade A+)
8 / 30
Josep Suria // Shutterstock

#23. New Canaan, Connecticut

- Overall Rank: 1,670
- Population: 20,574
- Median household income: $214,977
- Median home value: $1,264,400 (81% own)
- Median rent: $2,477 (19% rent)
- Top public schools: New Canaan High School (grade A+), Center for Global Studies (grade A+), West School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Greenwich Academy (grade A+), Brunswick School (grade A+), Pierrepont School (grade A+)
9 / 30
BAZA Production // Shutterstock

#22. Weston, Connecticut

- Overall Rank: 1,643
- Population: 10,339
- Median household income: $204,792
- Median home value: $839,900 (97% own)
- Median rent: $3,501 (3% rent)
- Top public schools: Center for Global Studies (grade A+), Weston High School (grade A+), Weston Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Pierrepont School (grade A+), St. Luke's School (grade A+), Greens Farms Academy (grade A+)
10 / 30
RossHelen // Shutterstock

#21. Darien, Connecticut

- Overall Rank: 1,447
- Population: 21,742
- Median household income: $232,523
- Median home value: $1,471,700 (87% own)
- Median rent: $2,469 (13% rent)
- Top public schools: Darien High School (grade A+), Tokeneke Elementary School (grade A+), Middlesex Middle School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Greenwich Academy (grade A+), Brunswick School (grade A+), Pierrepont School (grade A+)
You may also like: Counties with the worst droughts in Connecticut
11 / 30
NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

#20. Southport, Connecticut

- Overall Rank: 1,442
- Population: 1,515
- Median household income: $156,406
- Median home value: $885,100 (84% own)
- Median rent: $3,121 (16% rent)
- Top public schools: Center for Global Studies (grade A+), Fairfield Ludlowe High School (grade A), Roger Ludlowe Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Pierrepont School (grade A+), Greens Farms Academy (grade A+), Bridgeport International Academy (grade A+)
12 / 30
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#19. Wethersfield, Connecticut

- Overall Rank: 1,437
- Population: 27,192
- Median household income: $108,656
- Median home value: $286,000 (80% own)
- Median rent: $1,244 (20% rent)
- Top public schools: Glastonbury High School (grade A+), Buttonball Lane School (grade A), Hopewell School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Miss Porter's School (grade A+), Kingswood Oxford School (grade A+)
13 / 30
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#18. Pemberwick, Connecticut

- Overall Rank: 1,420
- Population: 3,212
- Median household income: $122,546
- Median home value: $819,700 (66% own)
- Median rent: $2,291 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Greenwich High School (grade A+), Glenville School (grade A), Western Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Rye Country Day School (grade A+), French-American School of New York (grade A+), Greenwich Academy (grade A+)
14 / 30
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#17. West Simsbury, Connecticut

- Overall Rank: 1,163
- Population: 2,796
- Median household income: $175,045
- Median home value: $457,700 (90% own)
- Median rent: $2,176 (10% rent)
- Top public schools: Simsbury High School (grade A), Henry James Memorial School (grade A), Central School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Miss Porter's School (grade A+), Avon Old Farms School (grade A+), Westminster School (grade A+)
15 / 30
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#16. Fairfield, Connecticut

- Overall Rank: 1,007
- Population: 61,737
- Median household income: $149,641
- Median home value: $627,100 (83% own)
- Median rent: $1,977 (17% rent)
- Top public schools: Center for Global Studies (grade A+), Fairfield Warde High School (grade A+), Sherman School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Pierrepont School (grade A+), Greens Farms Academy (grade A+), Bridgeport International Academy (grade A+)
You may also like: The number of registered hunters in Connecticut
16 / 30
oneinchpunch // Shutterstock

#15. South Windsor, Connecticut

- Overall Rank: 988
- Population: 26,719
- Median household income: $126,996
- Median home value: $291,400 (85% own)
- Median rent: $1,595 (15% rent)
- Top public schools: Pleasant Valley School (grade A), Orchard Hill School (grade A), Philip R. Smith School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Suffield Academy (grade A+), Kingswood Oxford School (grade A+)
17 / 30
Akarawut // Shutterstock

#14. Glenville, Connecticut

- Overall Rank: 964
- Population: 3,112
- Median household income: $197,619
- Median home value: $986,600 (72% own)
- Median rent: $2,453 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Greenwich High School (grade A+), Blind Brook High School (grade A), Blind Brook-Rye Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Rye Country Day School (grade A+), French-American School of New York (grade A+), Hackley School (grade A+)
18 / 30
YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV // Shutterstock

#13. Greenwich, Connecticut

- Overall Rank: 935
- Population: 63,455
- Median household income: $180,447
- Median home value: $1,377,000 (67% own)
- Median rent: $2,122 (33% rent)
- Top public schools: Greenwich High School (grade A+), Center for Global Studies (grade A+), International School at Dundee (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Rye Country Day School (grade A+), French-American School of New York (grade A+), Hackley School (grade A+)
19 / 30
Ground Picture // Shutterstock

#12. Wilton, Connecticut

- Overall Rank: 919
- Population: 18,486
- Median household income: $209,635
- Median home value: $768,400 (90% own)
- Median rent: $2,039 (10% rent)
- Top public schools: Wilton High School (grade A+), Center for Global Studies (grade A+), Middlebrook School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Pierrepont School (grade A+), St. Luke's School (grade A+), King School (grade A+)
20 / 30
Stuart Monk // Shutterstock

#11. Farmington, Connecticut

- Overall Rank: 817
- Population: 26,559
- Median household income: $106,773
- Median home value: $339,200 (74% own)
- Median rent: $1,567 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Farmington High School (grade A+), East Farms School (grade A), West Woods Upper Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Miss Porter's School (grade A+), Avon Old Farms School (grade A+)
You may also like: These 10 car insurers have the highest market share in Connecticut
21 / 30
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#10. Glastonbury, Connecticut

- Overall Rank: 816
- Population: 35,061
- Median household income: $130,294
- Median home value: $355,500 (81% own)
- Median rent: $1,524 (19% rent)
- Top public schools: Glastonbury High School (grade A+), Buttonball Lane School (grade A), Hopewell School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Miss Porter's School (grade A+), Kingswood Oxford School (grade A+)
22 / 30
Laura Beach // Shutterstock

#9. Riverside, Connecticut

- Overall Rank: 769
- Population: 9,093
- Median household income: $250,001
- Median home value: $1,626,900 (82% own)
- Median rent: $2,218 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: Greenwich High School (grade A+), Center for Global Studies (grade A+), International School at Dundee (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Rye Country Day School (grade A+), French-American School of New York (grade A+), Greenwich Academy (grade A+)
23 / 30
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#8. Westport, Connecticut

- Overall Rank: 755
- Population: 28,016
- Median household income: $206,466
- Median home value: $1,150,400 (85% own)
- Median rent: $1,956 (15% rent)
- Top public schools: Staples High School (grade A+), Green's Farms School (grade A+), Coleytown Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Pierrepont School (grade A+), St. Luke's School (grade A+), King School (grade A+)
24 / 30
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

#7. Cos Cob, Connecticut

- Overall Rank: 743
- Population: 7,243
- Median household income: $185,125
- Median home value: $1,138,300 (66% own)
- Median rent: $2,412 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Greenwich High School (grade A+), Center for Global Studies (grade A+), North Mianus School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Rye Country Day School (grade A+), French-American School of New York (grade A+), Greenwich Academy (grade A+)
25 / 30
Robert Kneschke // Shutterstock

#6. Simsbury, Connecticut

- Overall Rank: 739
- Population: 24,467
- Median household income: $134,688
- Median home value: $352,800 (78% own)
- Median rent: $1,632 (22% rent)
- Top public schools: Simsbury High School (grade A), Henry James Memorial School (grade A), Latimer Lane School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Suffield Academy (grade A+), Miss Porter's School (grade A+)
You may also like: Risky reservoirs: Connecticut counties where aging dams pose the greatest threat
26 / 30
Mila Supinskaya Glashchenko // Shutterstock

#5. Avon, Connecticut

- Overall Rank: 738
- Population: 18,821
- Median household income: $130,268
- Median home value: $383,800 (84% own)
- Median rent: $1,485 (16% rent)
- Top public schools: Avon High School (grade A+), Avon Middle School (grade A), Roaring Brook School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Miss Porter's School (grade A+), Avon Old Farms School (grade A+), Kingswood Oxford School (grade A+)
27 / 30
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

#4. Old Greenwich, Connecticut

- Overall Rank: 708
- Population: 7,060
- Median household income: $240,417
- Median home value: $1,632,000 (83% own)
- Median rent: $3,501 (17% rent)
- Top public schools: Greenwich High School (grade A+), Center for Global Studies (grade A+), International School at Dundee (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Rye Country Day School (grade A+), French-American School of New York (grade A+), Greenwich Academy (grade A+)
28 / 30
F8 studio // Shutterstock

#3. Glastonbury Center, Connecticut

- Overall Rank: 578
- Population: 7,959
- Median household income: $104,557
- Median home value: $360,900 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,657 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Glastonbury High School (grade A+), Buttonball Lane School (grade A), Hopewell School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Miss Porter's School (grade A+), Kingswood Oxford School (grade A+)
29 / 30
FamVeld // Shutterstock

#2. Weatogue, Connecticut

- Overall Rank: 505
- Population: 2,671
- Median household income: $154,716
- Median home value: $367,700 (82% own)
- Median rent: $1,953 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: Simsbury High School (grade A), Henry James Memorial School (grade A), Latimer Lane School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Miss Porter's School (grade A+), Avon Old Farms School (grade A+)
30 / 30
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

#1. West Hartford, Connecticut

- Overall Rank: 100
- Population: 64,088
- Median household income: $124,150
- Median home value: $370,500 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,608 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Conard High School (grade A+), Hall High School (grade A), Bugbee School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Miss Porter's School (grade A+), Avon Old Farms School (grade A+)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 40 states.

You may also like: Which movies were filmed in Connecticut?

Trending Now