The GI Bill of Rights, Ike's interstate system, suburban development, and the growing affordability of cars allowed the suburbs to flourish throughout the mid-20th century. During this era, a new American Dream was established: one with single-family homes, white picket fences, and lush green lawns.
Today, however, the traditional suburb may no longer cater to what 79% of Americans want: walkability. Younger people are especially attracted to neighborhoods where stores, restaurants, and other amenities are a short walk away, according to a National Association of Realtors survey released in 2023. But a good location comes with a cost.
A Redfin analysis showed homes in 2019 in walkable areas sold for almost 25% more than homes without the same walkability, equivalent to nearly $78,000 more in the national average. Some suburbs offer the amenities of city life, whether through easy transit to big cities (such as Wilmette, Illinois, with easy proximity to Chicago), or college-town amenities such as those found in Claremont, California.
What individual families and people look for in a suburb will vary, of course, with some prioritizing quiet and extra space, even if that means driving more often.
Stacker used data from Niche to examine the best suburbs in Hartford. Niche ranked suburbs across the U.S. based on several factors, including diversity, the cost of living, the share of the population with college degrees, and the quality of schools and housing.
Read on to see the highest-ranked suburbs in Hartford.
You may also like: Best places to live in the Hartford metro area
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
1 / 16#16. Windsor, Connecticut
- Population: 29,424
- Median home value: $229,600
- Median rental price: $1,423
- Top schools nearby: Poquonock Elementary School (grade A), Oliver Ellsworth School (grade A), Academy of Aerospace & Engineering (grade A−)
- Top private schools nearby: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Suffield Academy (grade A+), Miss Porter's School (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A−
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: unavailable
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2 / 16#15. Portland, Connecticut
- Population: 6,417
- Median home value: $256,000
- Median rental price: $1,192
- Top schools nearby: Haddam-Killingworth Intermediate School (grade A−), Moser School (grade A−), Portland High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools nearby: Xavier High School (grade A), Mercy High School (grade A), Emmanuel Christian Academy (grade A−)
- Overall Niche grade: A−
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: A
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3 / 16#14. Cromwell, Connecticut
- Population: 14,252
- Median home value: $249,300
- Median rental price: $1,219
- Top schools nearby: Haddam-Killingworth Intermediate School (grade A−), Moser School (grade A−), Cromwell High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools nearby: Choate Rosemary Hall (grade A+), The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Miss Porter's School (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A−
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: unavailable
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4 / 16#13. East Granby, Connecticut
- Population: 5,148
- Median home value: $289,200
- Median rental price: $1,089
- Top schools nearby: Allgrove School (grade A), Academy of Aerospace & Engineering (grade A−), Tariffville School (grade A−)
- Top private schools nearby: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Suffield Academy (grade A+), Westminster School (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A−
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B
--- Outdoor activities grade: unavailable
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5 / 16#12. Rocky Hill, Connecticut
- Population: 20,682
- Median home value: $275,600
- Median rental price: $1,579
- Top schools nearby: West Hill School (grade A), Rocky Hill High School (grade A), Academy of Aerospace & Engineering (grade A−)
- Top private schools nearby: Choate Rosemary Hall (grade A+), The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Miss Porter's School (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: C+
--- Outdoor activities grade: unavailable
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6 / 16#11. Newington, Connecticut
- Population: 30,458
- Median home value: $266,200
- Median rental price: $1,401
- Top schools nearby: Webster Hill School (grade A), Academy of Aerospace & Engineering (grade A−), Moser School (grade A−)
- Top private schools nearby: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Miss Porter's School (grade A+), Avon Old Farms School (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: A
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7 / 16#10. Collinsville, Connecticut
- Population: 3,750
- Median home value: $367,400
- Median rental price: $1,530
- Top schools nearby: Canton High School (grade A), Canton Intermediate School (grade A−), Cherry Brook Primary School (grade A−)
- Top private schools nearby: Miss Porter's School (grade A+), Avon Old Farms School (grade A+), Westminster School (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: C
--- Outdoor activities grade: A
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8 / 16#9. Wethersfield, Connecticut
- Population: 27,192
- Median home value: $286,000
- Median rental price: $1,244
- Top schools nearby: Glastonbury High School (grade A+), Buttonball Lane School (grade A), Hopewell School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Miss Porter's School (grade A+), Kingswood Oxford School (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: A
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9 / 16#8. West Simsbury, Connecticut
- Population: 2,796
- Median home value: $457,700
- Median rental price: $2,176
- Top schools nearby: Simsbury High School (grade A), Henry James Memorial School (grade A), Central School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: Miss Porter's School (grade A+), Avon Old Farms School (grade A+), Westminster School (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: C+
--- Outdoor activities grade: A
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10 / 16#7. South Windsor, Connecticut
- Population: 26,719
- Median home value: $291,400
- Median rental price: $1,595
- Top schools nearby: Pleasant Valley School (grade A), Orchard Hill School (grade A), Philip R. Smith School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Suffield Academy (grade A+), Kingswood Oxford School (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: unavailable
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11 / 16#6. Farmington, Connecticut
- Population: 26,559
- Median home value: $339,200
- Median rental price: $1,567
- Top schools nearby: Farmington High School (grade A+), East Farms School (grade A), West Woods Upper Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Miss Porter's School (grade A+), Avon Old Farms School (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: C+
--- Outdoor activities grade: unavailable
Mila Supinskaya Glashchenko // Shutterstock
12 / 16#5. Glastonbury, Connecticut
- Population: 35,061
- Median home value: $355,500
- Median rental price: $1,524
- Top schools nearby: Glastonbury High School (grade A+), Buttonball Lane School (grade A), Hopewell School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Miss Porter's School (grade A+), Kingswood Oxford School (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: C+
--- Outdoor activities grade: unavailable
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13 / 16#4. Simsbury, Connecticut
- Population: 24,467
- Median home value: $352,800
- Median rental price: $1,632
- Top schools nearby: Simsbury High School (grade A), Henry James Memorial School (grade A), Latimer Lane School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Suffield Academy (grade A+), Miss Porter's School (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: C+
--- Outdoor activities grade: unavailable
F8 studio // Shutterstock
14 / 16#3. Avon, Connecticut
- Population: 18,821
- Median home value: $383,800
- Median rental price: $1,485
- Top schools nearby: Avon High School (grade A+), Avon Middle School (grade A), Roaring Brook School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: Miss Porter's School (grade A+), Avon Old Farms School (grade A+), Kingswood Oxford School (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: C+
--- Outdoor activities grade: unavailable
FamVeld // Shutterstock
15 / 16#2. Glastonbury Center, Connecticut
- Population: 7,959
- Median home value: $360,900
- Median rental price: $1,657
- Top schools nearby: Glastonbury High School (grade A+), Buttonball Lane School (grade A), Hopewell School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Miss Porter's School (grade A+), Kingswood Oxford School (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: C+
--- Outdoor activities grade: A
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16 / 16#1. Weatogue, Connecticut
- Population: 2,671
- Median home value: $367,700
- Median rental price: $1,953
- Top schools nearby: Simsbury High School (grade A), Henry James Memorial School (grade A), Latimer Lane School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Miss Porter's School (grade A+), Avon Old Farms School (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: A
This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 67 metros.
