Three new cities moved into the best places for families in Connecticut according to the HomeSnacks most family friendly places for 2026 report.
Each year we analyze what we feel are the best places for families in Connecticut. We take into account categories that we all agree make a state great for families like family friendly amenities and percentage of households that currently have kids. We also take into account places with solid schools, low crime, and great jobs with competitive salaries. We even looked at short commute times. According to the Happiness Research Institute, most families don’t like where they live and wished they lived somewhere better. However, not the folks in our most family friendly places in Connecticut.
How did we determine Connecticut’s most family friendly places? We consulted the US Census on places in this New England state with more than 11,000 residents. We ended up with 32 family friendly Connecticut places that any family would be lucky to call home.
We also discovered that there are family friendly places for every budget. The Constitution State has hip places for families just starting out like Milford, idyllic Norman Rockwell-esque places like Simsbury Center, and upscale places like Norwalk for families who don’t have to worry about being on a budget.
Are you surprised by this year’s results? Pull up a chair and put a smile on your face as we look at Connecticut’s best places for families.
$134,914 median income · 29.9% households with kids
Located in
Fairfield County, ConnecticutGreenwich is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 61,171. The largest town on Connecticut’s Gold Coast, it is home to many hedge funds and other financial service companies. Greenwich is the southernmost and westernmost municipality in Connecticut as well as the six-state region of New England. It takes roughly 40-50 minutes by train from Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan. CNN/Money and Money magazine ranked Greenwich 12th on its list of the “100 Best Places to Live in the United States” in 2005. The town is named after Greenwich, a borough of London in the United Kingdom.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$142,325 median income · 33.0% households with kids
Located in
New Haven County, ConnecticutOrange is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 13,956 at the 2010 census. The town is governed by a Board of Selectmen.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$90,848 median income · 29.3% households with kids
Located in
Fairfield County, ConnecticutBethel is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, about 69 miles from New York City. Its population was 18,584 at the 2010 census. The town center is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place. The core area of the town center has also been designated as a historic district.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$45,962 median income · 31.5% households with kids
Located in
Windham County, ConnecticutWillimantic is a census-designated place, former city and borough, and special-services district. It is located in the town of Windham in Windham County, Connecticut. The population was 17,737 at the 2010 census. It is home to Eastern Connecticut State University and the Windham Textile and History Museum. Willimantic was incorporated as a city in 1893; the city was superseded in 1983 by the Willimantic Special Services District/Willimantic CDP. It is also the birthplace of former U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd of Connecticut.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$129,890 median income · 29.4% households with kids
Located in
Hartford County, ConnecticutWest Hartford is an affluent suburb located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. Located 5 miles west of downtown Hartford, the population was 63,268 at the 2010 census.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$108,185 median income · 28.9% households with kids
Located in
Fairfield County, ConnecticutShelton is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 39,559 at the 2010 census.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$126,806 median income · 28.3% households with kids
Located in
Hartford County, ConnecticutWethersfield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is located immediately south of Hartford along the Connecticut River. Its population was 26,668 in the 2010 census.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$81,205 median income · 27.5% households with kids
Located in
Hartford County, ConnecticutWindsor Locks is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 12,498. It is the site of Bradley International Airport, which serves the Greater Hartford-Springfield region and occupies approximately 1/3 of the town. Windsor Locks is also the site of the New England Air Museum.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$132,689 median income · 32.1% households with kids
Located in
New Haven County, ConnecticutNorth Haven is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut on the outskirts of New Haven, Connecticut. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 24,093.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$85,877 median income · 30.8% households with kids
Located in
New Haven County, ConnecticutAnsonia is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, on the Naugatuck River, immediately north of Derby, and about 12 miles northwest of New Haven. The population was 19,249 at the 2010 census. The ZIP code for Ansonia is 06401. The city is served by the Metro-North Railroad. Ansonia Station is a stop on the railroad passenger commuter service’s Waterbury line, connecting to New York’s Grand Central Terminal. Ansonia also is served by the Connecticut Transit bus carrier. Connecticut Route 8 serves Ansonia.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Connecticut’s statewide median.
Connecticut statewide median: $95,781
Connecticut statewide median: $436,407
On the map
Where Connecticut’s most family-friendly cities are
Saturday Night Science
Methodology: How do you determine which place is best for families in Connecticut anyways?
To give you the places in Connecticut that are best for families, we must look at a handful of metrics. We want to measure the criteria people want in a family-friendly city utilizing Saturday Night Science.
After researching U.S. Census data produced for the state of Connecticut, we looked at the data for every single city in the state. We paid particular attention to:
- Crime (Both violent and property)
- Quality of local schools
- Distance to a major city without necessarily being in it
- % of households with children
- Family-friendly amenities nearby (museums, libraries, and colleges)
We then gave each city a “Family Score.”
The higher the score, the better the city is for families. We also limited our results to cities with over 11,000 people. For Connecticut, that meant a total of 32 cities.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best cities for families in Connecticut.
The full plate
Best Places For Families In Connecticut
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | % Households w/ Kids |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greenwich | 14,792 | $134,914 | $2,265,962 | 29.9% |
| 2 | Orange | 14,315 | $142,325 | $619,525 | 33.0% |
| 3 | Bethel | 11,404 | $90,848 | $554,248 | 29.3% |
| 4 | Willimantic | 18,096 | $45,962 | $266,600 | 31.5% |
| 5 | West Hartford | 63,620 | $129,890 | $487,818 | 29.4% |
| 6 | Shelton | 41,889 | $108,185 | $549,374 | 28.9% |
| 7 | Wethersfield | 27,250 | $126,806 | $424,098 | 28.3% |
| 8 | Windsor Locks | 12,579 | $81,205 | $327,845 | 27.5% |
| 9 | North Haven | 24,336 | $132,689 | $460,566 | 32.1% |
| 10 | Ansonia | 19,033 | $85,877 | $374,885 | 30.8% |
| 11 | Stamford | 137,144 | $111,586 | $704,417 | 25.7% |
| 12 | Bristol | 61,462 | $79,076 | $339,024 | 30.5% |
| 13 | Norwalk | 92,187 | $107,616 | $653,113 | 27.6% |
| 14 | Middletown | 47,958 | $79,438 | $354,795 | 20.6% |
| 15 | West Haven | 55,351 | $74,382 | $354,725 | 28.9% |
| 16 | Naugatuck | 31,800 | $96,324 | $346,062 | 29.3% |
| 17 | Danbury | 87,263 | $83,393 | $478,979 | 30.6% |
| 18 | East Hartford | 50,918 | $70,778 | $300,292 | 31.3% |
| 19 | Hartford | 121,127 | $46,411 | $198,965 | 31.7% |
| 20 | New London | 27,625 | $59,098 | $312,695 | 23.4% |
| 21 | Milford | 51,023 | $111,201 | $493,542 | 21.9% |
| 22 | Manchester | 36,759 | $74,267 | $323,532 | 25.0% |
| 23 | Norwich | 39,973 | $65,024 | $293,052 | 27.8% |
| 24 | Newington | 30,896 | $102,884 | $369,180 | 22.5% |
| 25 | New Haven | 134,349 | $56,851 | $326,440 | 26.1% |
| 26 | Bridgeport | 149,153 | $58,685 | $355,127 | 29.3% |
| 27 | Derby | 12,487 | $79,500 | $336,765 | 20.8% |
| 28 | East Haven | 27,806 | $94,628 | $353,436 | 23.9% |
| 29 | Torrington | 35,547 | $70,856 | $295,024 | 24.5% |
| 30 | New Britain | 74,223 | $58,613 | $298,511 | 29.1% |
| 31 | Waterbury | 114,869 | $51,886 | $276,344 | 34.1% |
| 32 | Meriden | 60,545 | $71,253 | $315,833 | 28.6% |
Source: U.S. Census data via Saturday Night Science. 32 Connecticut cities with more than 11,000 residents.
Summary
Summary: The Best Places To Raise A Family In Connecticut
If you’re looking for a breakdown of cities in Connecticut ranked by criteria that most agree make a place a great spot for families, this is an accurate list.
The best places for families in Connecticut are Greenwich, Orange, Bethel, Willimantic, West Hartford, Shelton, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks, North Haven, and Ansonia. Not sold on Connecticut? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.
Questions and answers
Best Places For Families In Connecticut FAQs
What is the best place to raise a family in Connecticut?
Greenwich is the best place to raise a family in Connecticut for 2026, according to Saturday Night Science. Orange and Bethel round out the top three.
What are the best places for families in Connecticut?
The best Connecticut places to raise a family are Greenwich, Orange, Bethel, Willimantic, West Hartford, Shelton, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks, North Haven, and Ansonia. We ranked all 32 cities with more than 11,000 residents.
How do you rank family-friendly cities?
Family-friendliness blends low crime, good schools, proximity to a major city, the share of households with kids, and nearby amenities. The city that balances all of it best in Connecticut is Greenwich.
Is Greenwich affordable for families?
The median home in Greenwich costs $2,265,962 against a median household income of $134,914. Statewide, the median home runs $436,407, so check the gap before you pack the minivan.
What is the toughest place to raise a family in Connecticut?
Meriden lands at the bottom of the family ranking for Connecticut. Families make it work everywhere, but the crime, school, and income numbers stack against it there.
