Best counties to live in Connecticut
More counties in the United States experienced population growth in the last year, according to the latest Census data, even as pandemic-related moving trends begin to normalize.
Counties in the South continued to experience growth, particularly in Florida, where 96% of its 67 counties gained new residents. Polk County, Florida, a suburb of Orlando, added the most, with 26,000 people moving there in 2023.
Meanwhile, counties in the Midwest and Northeast continued to lose population, but at slower rates than the year before. Some of the biggest losses were in counties home to large cities, including Cook County, Illinois (home of Chicago) and the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens in New York.
Many counties are experiencing growth due to their job opportunities, education, or relatively affordable housing costs. Others are favored for their historic or well-designed downtowns or access to cultural opportunities.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in Connecticut using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks counties by various factors including public schools, educational attainment, cost of living, and housing.
Keep reading to see if your county made the list.
#8. Windham County, Connecticut
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 116,503
- Median household income: $71,418
- Median home value: $217,300 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,019 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Pomfret Community School (grade B+), Parish Hill High School (grade B+), Ashford School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Pomfret School (grade A+), Marianapolis Preparatory School (grade A+), Putnam Science Academy (grade A)
- Top places: Pomfret (grade B), Woodstock (grade B), Wauregan (grade B minus)
#7. Litchfield County, Connecticut
- Overall Rank: 970
- Population: 185,175
- Median household income: $84,797
- Median home value: $270,000 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,114 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Colebrook Consolidated School (grade A), Kent Center School (grade A), Washington Primary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Hotchkiss School (grade A+), The Taft School (grade A+), Kent School (grade A+)
- Top places: New Preston (grade A), Washington (grade A minus), Litchfield (grade B+)
#6. New Haven County, Connecticut
- Overall Rank: 624
- Population: 864,751
- Median household income: $75,043
- Median home value: $259,400 (62% own)
- Median rent: $1,223 (38% rent)
- Top public schools: Daniel Hand High School (grade A), Guilford High School (grade A), Highland School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Choate Rosemary Hall (grade A+), Hopkins School (grade A+), Hamden Hall Country Day School (grade A+)
- Top places: Madison (grade A), Cheshire (grade A), Orange (grade A)
#5. New London County, Connecticut
- Overall Rank: 457
- Population: 269,131
- Median household income: $79,040
- Median home value: $257,600 (67% own)
- Median rent: $1,192 (33% rent)
- 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+), St. Thomas More School (grade A+), Academy of the Holy Family (grade A+)
- Top places: Noank (grade A), Mystic (grade A), Long Hill (grade A)
#4. Tolland County, Connecticut
- Overall Rank: 385
- Population: 150,120
- Median household income: $88,525
- Median home value: $264,500 (70% own)
- Median rent: $1,238 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Dorothy C. Goodwin School (grade A), Rham High School (grade A), Capt. Nathan Hale 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: Mansfield Center (grade A), South Coventry (grade A minus), Hebron (grade A minus)
#3. Middlesex County, Connecticut
- Overall Rank: 316
- Population: 164,568
- Median household income: $90,833
- Median home value: $298,300 (74% own)
- Median rent: $1,222 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Chester Elementary School (grade A), Deep River Elementary School (grade A), Killingworth Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Xavier High School (grade A), The Oxford Academy (grade A), Mercy High School (grade A)
- Top places: Higganum (grade A), Cromwell (grade A minus), Portland (grade A minus)
#2. Hartford County, Connecticut
- Overall Rank: 253
- Population: 898,636
- Median household income: $80,320
- Median home value: $249,000 (65% own)
- Median rent: $1,191 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Avon High School (grade A+), Conard High School (grade A+), Glastonbury High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Suffield Academy (grade A+), Miss Porter's School (grade A+)
- Top places: West Hartford (grade A+), Weatogue (grade A+), Glastonbury Center (grade A+)
#1. Fairfield County, Connecticut
- Overall Rank: 121
- Population: 956,446
- Median household income: $101,194
- Median home value: $443,100 (67% own)
- Median rent: $1,593 (33% rent)
- Top public schools: New Canaan High School (grade A+), Staples High School (grade A+), Wilton High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Greenwich Academy (grade A+), Brunswick School (grade A+), Pierrepont School (grade A+)
- Top places: Old Greenwich (grade A+), Cos Cob (grade A+), Westport (grade A+)
This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
