Best small towns to live in Connecticut

1. 1
   Lakes East, CT Score 72/100

   1,227 people · typical home $571k · household income $218k · 82 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 40% of CT · 2.0% unemployment · 4 mi to a hospital

2. 2
   South Woodstock, CT Score 64/100

   1,340 people · typical home $248k · household income $98k · 28 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 61% of CT · 6.0% unemployment · 5 mi to a hospital

3. 3
   Lakes West, CT Score 61/100

   1,395 people · typical home $715k · household income $220k · 82 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 37% of CT · 5.0% unemployment · 4 mi to a hospital

4. 4
   Putnam, CT Score 56/100

   7,120 people · typical home $245k · household income $66k · 49 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 63% of CT · 4.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

5. 5
   Danielson, CT Score 52/100

   4,209 people · typical home $225k · household income $64k · 28 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 73% of CT · 16.0% unemployment · 7 mi to a hospital

6. 6
   Wauregan, CT Score 51/100

   1,049 people · typical home $263k · household income $80k · 28 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 73% of CT · 4.0% unemployment · 11 mi to a hospital

7. 7
   Ridgebury, CT Score 51/100

   2,060 people · typical home $907k · household income $217k · 82 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 42% of CT · 1.0% unemployment · 4 mi to a hospital

8. 8
   Litchfield, CT Score 50/100

   1,251 people · typical home $409k · household income $110k · 98 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 33% of CT · 6.0% unemployment · 7 mi to a hospital

9. 9
   Route 7 Gateway, CT Score 50/100

   1,108 people · typical home $758k · household income $129k · 82 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 27% of CT · 2.0% unemployment · 4 mi to a hospital

10. 10
    Bethlehem Village, CT Score 49/100

    2,195 people · typical home $381k · household income $109k · 133 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 36% of CT · 3.0% unemployment · 12 mi to a hospital

11. 11
    Moosup, CT Score 48/100

    2,885 people · typical home $271k · household income $73k · 28 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 76% of CT · 1.0% unemployment · 13 mi to a hospital

12. 12
    Northwest Harwinton, CT Score 48/100

    3,088 people · typical home $331k · household income $109k · 98 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 63% of CT · 4.0% unemployment · 5 mi to a hospital

13. 13
    Ridgefield, CT Score 47/100

    6,970 people · typical home $844k · household income $148k · 82 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 4% of CT · 5.0% unemployment · 8 mi to a hospital

14. 14
    Plainfield Village, CT Score 45/100

    2,316 people · typical home $233k · household income $54k · 15 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 72% of CT · 7.0% unemployment · 12 mi to a hospital

15. 15
    East Brooklyn, CT Score 42/100

    2,377 people · typical home $295k · household income $74k · 28 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 74% of CT · 10.0% unemployment · 8 mi to a hospital

16. 16
    Pawcatuck, CT Score 42/100

    5,577 people · typical home $361k · household income $80k · 121 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 27% of CT · 5.0% unemployment · 4 mi to a hospital

17. 17
    South Windham, CT Score 38/100

    1,281 people · typical home $214k · household income $75k · 121 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 77% of CT · 6.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

18. 18
    New Preston, CT Score 33/100

    1,146 people · typical home $453k · household income $76k · 98 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 9% of CT · 6.0% unemployment · 13 mi to a hospital

How we ranked them

Every small town in Connecticut with 1,000–15,000 people that stands on its own (not part of a big metro core, by USDA rural-urban codes) and has solid Census data. Each town is scored against the others in Connecticut on: affordability (household income vs. home prices), safety (violent crime, FBI), schools (reading proficiency vs. other Connecticut districts), jobs (unemployment, half weight) and everyday access (distance to a hospital and a grocery store, quarter weight each). Missing numbers count as average.

The "best" town is different for everyone — weather, size, politics, things to do and more all matter too.

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