9 Greatest Locations to Reside in Connecticut

Hartford

Connecticut’s capital is a real gem, providing residents a superb faculty system, charming neighborhoods, top-notch healthcare services, cultural actions, and recreation. “We’re really spoiled,” Paula Ostop, a dealer at William Raveis Actual Property/Luxurious Portfolio Worldwide, stated of the town, ranked quantity 13 for high quality of life in U.S. Information’s newest report.

She defined that West Hartford Heart stays the most well-liked leisure district, and houses positioned there are in very excessive demand. Architectural types differ between colonial, Cape Cod, and ranch types.

Actual property values are additionally on the inexpensive facet, with median residence costs at round $170,000, in line with Zillow.

Weatogue

This quaint village northwest of Hartford alongside the Farmington River is steeped in historical past. Weatogue is residence to many noteworthy spots together with the “haunted” Pettibone Tavern (now Abigail’s Grille and Wine Bar) and the East Weatogue Historic District, however the most well-liked space with newcomers is ​​Latimer Lane.

“It is loaded with enclaves, in addition to the beloved Latimer Lane Elementary Faculty – a spot the place youngsters can journey their bikes to the varsity or stroll,” Geena Becker of William Raveis Actual Property defined. “By way of residence types, again within the ’60s and ’70s, builders constructed raised ranches and colonials with a couple of [Cape Cod-style homes].”

At present, the median residence worth in Weatogue is round $420,000, which signifies a 12 % enhance since final 12 months and is increased than the nationwide median. An identical image emerges with the broader price of residing: Residents spend about 5 % extra than the U.S. common on bills like groceries, childcare, and transportation.

Farmington

“Farmington [is] a suburb of Hartford nestled within the picturesque Farmington Valley, [and it] offers the right setting for households to flourish,” William Raveis Actual Property dealer Lisa Sweeney stated, highlighting its sturdy sense of neighborhood, handy facilities, and quick access to purchasing and highways.

Farmington is over 350 years outdated, and because of cautious city planning and preservation, its residents can take pleasure in its historic character and allure.

“The housing market in Farmington and throughout the valley is strong and thriving,” Sweeney added and defined that potential patrons ought to anticipate intense competitors for the few out there properties “leading to gives exceeding asking costs and minimal contingencies.” The present median residence worth is round $460,000, in line with Zillow.

Glastonbury

Named the third-best place to reside in Connecticut by Area of interest.com, Glastonbury has round 35,000 full-time residents who take pleasure in entry to top-notch public faculties, wonderful sports activities packages, family-friendly facilities, and countless out of doors actions. This riverfront city is an ideal vacation spot for water sports activities fanatics and anglers, and it is often known as the house of the oldest constantly working cider mill within the nation.

“South Glastonbury is quaint with its retailers and eating places, in addition to its nation farms and prime location alongside the Connecticut River,” native dealer Harry Finer stated, including that vintage properties are highly regarded, however there may be additionally a lot of new residences and luxurious properties.

Nevertheless, residence costs listed below are shortly rising, with present values round $510,000, 14 % increased than final 12 months.

Outdated Greenwich

Nestled alongside Connecticut’s “Gold Coast,” Outdated Greenwich attracts many urbanites looking for escape from the hustle and bustle of New York Metropolis. Carolyn Petersen, a Houlihan Lawrence/Luxurious Portfolio Worldwide dealer, compares the city to Stars Hole, the fictional idyllic metropolis in Gilmore Ladies.

“One can reside in Outdated Greenwich by all seasons of life, and plenty of do — that is why Outdated Greenwich has been such a wildly common selection for these looking for a transfer,” Petersen added.

The city’s tight-knit neighborhood is a serious draw, too. “On any given day, you may volunteer with the Outdated Greenwich Affiliation, plant daffodil bulbs with the Buddies of Binney Park, attend a nature stroll with the Buddies of Greenwich Level Park (Tod’s Level to the locals!), purchase vegetation from the Backyard Membership of Outdated Greenwich, store on the Outdated Greenwich Farmer’s Market, play tennis in town courts, attend a ebook membership at Perrot Library, and end with a classy, but informal dinner at one in every of quite a lot of stylish eating places,” she stated.

Nevertheless, stock on this ritzy neighborhood is low, and houses include eye-watering worth tags. The present median worth is over $2 million, with over half of properties promoting above asking worth, in line with Zillow.

Stamford

Manhattanites love this vibrant neighborhood alongside the Lengthy Island Sound for its proximity to the town (simply 35 miles away, with categorical trains working day by day), various neighborhood, many cultural choices and occasions, pure landmarks, public parks, and seashores. Native actual property agent Meghan Athnos of Brown Harris Stevens/Luxurious Portfolio Worldwide known as it a “distinctive and great place to reside.”

However it is usually a spot with a extremely aggressive actual property market. In keeping with Athnos, ​​57 % of properties bought over the asking worth within the first quarter of 2024, and the common list-to-sale worth ratio was a report excessive of 101.8 %. Moreover, properties spend lower than two weeks available on the market earlier than they go from for-sale to pending standing.

The present median residence worth is round $660,000, however Athnos defined that there’s a lot of selection with regards to property varieties, “from vintage colonials to charming Capes, ranch-style properties to trendy contemporaries, downtown townhomes to high-rise flats, and all the pieces in between,” she added.

New Haven

The historic allure of New Haven blends with its trendy spirit for a various neighborhood that’s residence to one of many nation’s most prestigious universities, Yale. Town is chock-full of nice eating places, museums, bars, music venues, espresso retailers, and unbiased companies catering to New Haven’s 135,000 residents, a fourth of that are college students. The unemployment fee right here is about the identical because the nationwide common, or 3.8 %, with many firms organising store within the space to draw extremely educated and expert workers.

The price of residing in New Haven is about 9 % increased than the nationwide common. Against this, actual property is comparatively inexpensive, with median residence values at about $300,000.

Westport

With its stunning seashores, various neighborhoods, nice faculties, and plenty of retailers and eating places, Westport has turn into common with households and younger professionals looking for proximity to New York Metropolis and concrete facilities in a quaint setting.

“Westport is the right mix of New York Metropolis-inspired sophistication and New England coastal allure,” Amy Swanson, vice chairman of gross sales at William Raveis Actual Property/Luxurious Portfolio Worldwide, stated.

The city is nestled alongside the Lengthy Island Sound and the banks of the Saugatuck River, providing an abundance of water recreation and beautiful waterfront views. Town’s actual property market definitely displays its many facilities and wonderful high quality of life. Median residence costs have been on a gradual upward trajectory for a couple of years, and the present median residence worth is $1,777,000.

Weston

Weston’s tranquility, historic neighborhoods, wonderful public faculties, and low crime charges have made the city a magnet for younger households, particularly these looking for a lush pure setting (over a fourth of the town is preserved as open areas), out of doors recreation (together with entry to nation golf equipment and their sports activities services), and proximity to seashores and New York Metropolis. The city ranked within the prime 10 communities to boost a household in Connecticut on Area of interest.com, and the median age of Weston residents is 46 years outdated.

All these perks include a aggressive actual property market, with residence costs practically reaching the $1.5 million mark in Could, which, in line with Zillow, has primarily doubled since mid-2020. The city is just not precisely identified for its affordability, as the price of residing is 25 % increased than the nationwide common and 9 % above the Connecticut common.