Best Places to Live in Connecticut (2012)

This article, the twenty-sixth in a 50-state series, ranks the best places to live in Connecticut based on three criteria: (1) median household income (adjusted for cost of living); (2) educational attainment (% of residents 25 years and over who have earned a bachelor's degree or higher); and (3) property crime rates per 1,000 residents (burglary and automobile thefts). For purposes of these rankings, "places" are incorporated municipalities with populations greater than 2,000.

Among the twenty best places to live in Connecticut, eleven are suburbs of Bridgeport and exurbs of New York City, five are suburbs of Hartford, and four are suburbs of New Haven. By county, eleven of the best places to live in Connecticut are located in Fairfield County, three in Hartford County, two in New Haven County, two in Tolland County, and one each in New London and Roxbury counties.

After reading "Best Places to Live in Connecticut (2012)," return to this link to read "Largest Cities in Connecticut (2012)." A collection of similar articles for the remaining 49 states can be found at these links: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

For the culmination of the 50-state series, read "Best Places to Live in America (2012)."

This article may be updated when new data becomes available.

1. Best Places to Live in Connecticut (2012) - Weston, CT (Fairfield County)

Population: 10,137

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $147,900
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 80.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.78

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Hartford, CT: 66 miles NE
Bridgeport, CT: 13 miles ESE
New York, NY: 57 miles SW

2. Best Places to Live in Connecticut (2012) - Darien, CT (Fairfield County)

Population: 20,163

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $138,949
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 77.1%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.94

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Hartford, CT: 74 miles NE
Bridgeport, CT: 17 miles NNE
New York, NY: 46 miles SW

3. Best Places to Live in Connecticut (2012) - New Canaan, CT (Fairfield County)

Population: 19,805

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $112,342
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 73.9%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.55

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Hartford, CT: 72 miles NE
Bridgeport, CT: 19 miles E
New York, NY: 49 miles SW

4. Best Places to Live in Connecticut (2012) - Westport, CT (Fairfield County)

Population: 26,571

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $110,496
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 74.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.51

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Hartford, CT: 66 miles NE
Bridgeport, CT: 9 miles ENE
New York, NY: 54 miles SW

5. Best Places to Live in Connecticut (2012) - Wilton, CT (Fairfield County)

Population: 17,689

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $109,806
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 70.2%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.96

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Hartford, CT: 68 miles NE
Bridgeport, CT: 15 miles ESE
New York, NY: 56 miles SW

6. Best Places to Live in Connecticut (2012) - Easton, CT (Fairfield County)

Population: 7,371

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $115,188
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 66.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 4.08

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Hartford, CT: 59 miles NE
Bridgeport, CT: 9 miles SE
New York, NY: 62 miles SW

7. Best Places to Live in Connecticut (2012) - Ridgefield, CT (Fairfield County)

Population: 23,905

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $92,115
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 68.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.29

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Hartford, CT: 66 miles NE
Bridgeport, CT: 23 miles SE
New York, NY: 58 miles SSW

8. Best Places to Live in Connecticut (2012) - Simsbury, CT (Hartford County)

Population: 23,545

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $102,301
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 63.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.9

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Hartford, CT: 13 miles SE
Bridgeport, CT: 70 miles SW
New York, NY: 128 miles SW

9. Best Places to Live in Connecticut (2012) - Redding, CT (Fairfield County)

Population: 8,757

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $94,815
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 63.2%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.13

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Hartford, CT: 59 miles NE
Bridgeport, CT: 17 miles SSE
New York, NY: 65 miles SW

10. Best Places to Live in Connecticut (2012) - Avon, CT (Hartford County)

Population: 17,223

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $98,938
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 61.6%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.94

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Hartford, CT: 9 miles ESE
Bridgeport, CT: 62 miles SW
New York, NY: 122 miles SW

11. Best Places to Live in Connecticut (2012) - Woodbridge, CT (New Haven County)

Population: 9,187

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $97,239
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 66.7%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 4.45

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Hartford, CT: 41 miles NNE
New Haven, CT: 6 miles SE
Bridgeport, CT: 22 miles SSW
New York, NY: 83 miles SW

12. Best Places to Live in Connecticut (2012) - Greenwich, CT (Fairfield County)

Population: 61,672

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $81,667
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 62.2%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.77

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Hartford, CT: 83 miles NE
Bridgeport, CT: 26 miles ENE
New York, NY: 37 miles SSW

13. Best Places to Live in Connecticut (2012) - Glastonbury, CT (Hartford County)

Population: 33,033

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $95,782
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 56.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.75

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Hartford, CT: 8 miles NW
Bridgeport, CT: 54 miles SSW
New York, NY: 115 miles SW

14. Best Places to Live in Connecticut (2012) - Madison, CT (New Haven County)

Population: 18,726

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $80,115
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 62.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.54

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Hartford, CT: 39 miles N
New Haven, CT: 19 miles W
Bridgeport, CT: 38 miles ESE
New York, NY: 98 miles SW

15. Best Places to Live in Connecticut (2012) - Hebron, CT (Tolland County)

Population: 9,231

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $112,416
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 46.7%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.4

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Hartford, CT: 21 miles NW
Bridgeport, CT: 67 miles SW
New York, NY: 131 miles SW

16. Best Places to Live in Connecticut (2012) - Lyme, CT (New London County)

Population: 2,236

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $88,880
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 59.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.4

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Hartford, CT: 40 miles NW
Bridgeport, CT: 56 miles WSW
New York, NY: 117 miles SW

17. Best Places to Live in Connecticut (2012) - Brookfield, CT (Fairfield County)

Population: 16,372

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $78,883
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 56.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.79

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Hartford, CT: 56 miles NE
Bridgeport, CT: 28 miles SSE
New York, NY: 74 miles SSW

18. Best Places to Live in Connecticut (2012) - Tolland, CT (Tolland County)

Population: 14,653

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $102,322
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 46.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.4

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Hartford, CT: 21 miles WSW
Bridgeport, CT: 74 miles SW
Boston, MA: 84 miles NE
New York, NY: 135 miles SW

19. Best Places to Live in Connecticut (2012) - Roxbury, CT (Litchfield County)

Population: 2,306

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $85,765
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 54.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.4

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Hartford, CT: 43 miles NE
Bridgeport, CT: 34 miles S

20. Best Places to Live in Connecticut (2012) - Newtown, CT (Fairfield County)

Population: 26,679

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $81,164
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 51.1%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.75

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Hartford, CT: 48 miles NE
Bridgeport, CT: 21 miles SSE
New York, NY: 76 miles SSWNew York, NY: 89 miles SSW

*In some cases, municipalities either do not report their crime statistics to the FBI or they contract for services with the state or a county law enforcement agency. For those towns, crime rates are extrapolated from state, county, or contiguous municipality data.

Source(s):

"All Cities in Connecticut," City-Data.com
"American Community Survey," U.S. Census Bureau
"American Fact Finder," U.S. Census Bureau
"Uniform Crime Report," Federal Bureau of Investigation