Looking to spend a quiet retirement in the Constitution State?
Don’t move just anywhere until you’ve consulted our list of the best places to retire in Connecticut.
Why is Connecticut a great place to retire? Well, CT has been featured in the top ten of our lists of overall best, safest, and best family states in the country. On the flip side, it’s a tad expensive living in Connecticut, so make sure that 401k is looking strong before making any big decisions.
But you get what you pay for, because Connecticut has one of the most enviable autumns in the country. You’ll be complaining about the leaf-peepers from New York like a local in no time.
Pack up your hiking boots, push the kayak into the Connecticut River, and relax, because we’re visiting the best places to retire in Connecticut.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Connecticut For 2025
The best places to retire in Connecticut are, by and large, located in or around Hartford. More than half the cities on the list are within a half hour of the state’s capital city, including West and East Hartford themselves. If you want to be as close as possible to Connecticut’s biggest cities (New Haven and Bridgeport), then places like Shelton and Ansonia are your best bets for retirement.
What is the absolute best place to retire in Connecticut? According to the data, Windsor Locks is the best spot for folks looking to enjoy retirement.
To see how each of the 32 cities of 11,000 people or more are for retirement, consult the complete list below.
Why did Windsor Locks take the top spot? And where are Bridgeport and Stamford?
For more Connecticut state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Connecticut
- Cheapest Places To Live In Connecticut
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Connecticut
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Connecticut For 2025
/10
Population: 12,555
Median Income: $90,417
Median Home Price: $236,800
Median Rent: $1,290
Distance to Closest Airport: 1 miles
More on Windsor Locks: Data
/10
Population: 27,180
Median Income: $118,523
Median Home Price: $300,500
Median Rent: $1,303
Distance to Closest Airport: 16 miles
More on Wethersfield: Data
/10
Population: 17,774
Median Income: $41,972
Median Home Price: $180,600
Median Rent: $1,060
Distance to Closest Airport: 28 miles
More on Willimantic: Data
/10
Population: 35,481
Median Income: $69,611
Median Home Price: $195,800
Median Rent: $1,101
Distance to Closest Airport: 24 miles
More on Torrington: Data
/10
Population: 61,129
Median Income: $83,458
Median Home Price: $252,300
Median Rent: $1,305
Distance to Closest Airport: 22 miles
More on Bristol: Data
/10
Population: 47,646
Median Income: $73,979
Median Home Price: $279,500
Median Rent: $1,392
Distance to Closest Airport: 26 miles
More on Middletown: Data
/10
Population: 50,798
Median Income: $66,943
Median Home Price: $215,400
Median Rent: $1,184
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on East Hartford: Data
/10
Population: 39,992
Median Income: $64,185
Median Home Price: $231,300
Median Rent: $1,203
Distance to Closest Airport: 40 miles
More on Norwich: Data
/10
Population: 119,970
Median Income: $45,300
Median Home Price: $217,200
Median Rent: $1,221
Distance to Closest Airport: 11 miles
More on Hartford: Data
/10
Population: 11,606
Median Income: $88,344
Median Home Price: $377,500
Median Rent: $1,471
Distance to Closest Airport: 37 miles
More on Bethel: Data
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Constitution State for 2025
To create our ranking of the best places in Connecticut to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Constitution State — 142 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 11,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 32 places from across the state.
For these 32, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 32, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Windsor Locks, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2025. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Connecticut.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Connecticut Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Connecticut goes to Windsor Locks.
The best places to retire in Connecticut are Windsor Locks, Wethersfield, Willimantic, Torrington, Bristol, Middletown, East Hartford, Norwich, Hartford, and Bethel.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Bridgeport
- New Haven
- Milford
For more Connecticut reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Connecticut
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Windsor Locks | 12,555 | $90,417 | $236,800 | $1,290 |
| 2 | Wethersfield | 27,180 | $118,523 | $300,500 | $1,303 |
| 3 | Willimantic | 17,774 | $41,972 | $180,600 | $1,060 |
| 4 | Torrington | 35,481 | $69,611 | $195,800 | $1,101 |
| 5 | Bristol | 61,129 | $83,458 | $252,300 | $1,305 |
| 6 | Middletown | 47,646 | $73,979 | $279,500 | $1,392 |
| 7 | East Hartford | 50,798 | $66,943 | $215,400 | $1,184 |
| 8 | Norwich | 39,992 | $64,185 | $231,300 | $1,203 |
| 9 | Hartford | 119,970 | $45,300 | $217,200 | $1,221 |
| 10 | Bethel | 11,606 | $88,344 | $377,500 | $1,471 |