Connecticut doesn't get a lot of attention for its colleges, but there are 15 towns in the state with at least one four-year school -- and some of them make great places to spend four years.
We wanted to know which ones are the best college towns. You know the type of place: plenty of students, plenty to do, affordable rent, and safe enough to walk around at night.
So we used Saturday Night Science to rank all 15 of them on the colleges themselves, the town around them, and things to do. New Haven came out on top.
The 10 Best College Towns In Connecticut For 2026
Want the bigger picture? See where Connecticut's towns land among the best college towns in America.
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| Colleges | Yale University, Southern Connecticut State University, Albertus Magnus College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 14,044 (10 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 134,349 |
| Median rent | $1,488 |
| Graduation rate | 73% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $59,127 |
New Haven is home to Yale University, Southern Connecticut State University, Albertus Magnus College. There are 10 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,488 a month, and the average cost to attend is $59,127 a year. It ranks 15th for crime among the 15 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Eastern Connecticut State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 3,418 (19 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 18,096 |
| Median rent | $1,063 |
| Graduation rate | 64% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $31,983 |
Willimantic is home to Eastern Connecticut State University. There are 19 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,063 a month, and the average cost to attend is $31,983 a year. It ranks 2nd for crime among the 15 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Connecticut College, United States Coast Guard Academy, Mitchell College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 3,422 (12 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 27,625 |
| Median rent | $1,340 |
| Graduation rate | 76% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $70,122 |
New London is home to Connecticut College, United States Coast Guard Academy, Mitchell College. There are 12 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,340 a month, and the average cost to attend is $70,122 a year. It ranks 7th for crime among the 15 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Trinity College, University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus, Hartford International University for Religion and Peace |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 3,671 (3 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 121,127 |
| Median rent | $1,269 |
| Graduation rate | 71% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $57,393 |
Hartford is home to Trinity College, University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus, Hartford International University for Religion and Peace. There are 3 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,269 a month, and the average cost to attend is $57,393 a year. It ranks 14th for crime among the 15 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Connecticut-Stamford |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,432 (2 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 137,144 |
| Median rent | $2,276 |
| Graduation rate | 72% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $30,122 |
Stamford is home to University of Connecticut-Stamford. There are 2 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $2,276 a month, and the average cost to attend is $30,122 a year. It ranks 5th for crime among the 15 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Central Connecticut State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 7,822 (11 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 74,223 |
| Median rent | $1,253 |
| Graduation rate | 60% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $24,870 |
New Britain is home to Central Connecticut State University. There are 11 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,253 a month, and the average cost to attend is $24,870 a year. It ranks 11th for crime among the 15 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Connecticut-Avery Point |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 454 (5 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 9,490 |
| Median rent | $1,250 |
| Graduation rate | 60% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $23,337 |
Groton is home to University of Connecticut-Avery Point. There are 5 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,250 a month, and the average cost to attend is $23,337 a year. It ranks 1st for crime among the 15 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of New Haven |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 4,841 (9 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 55,351 |
| Median rent | $1,442 |
| Graduation rate | 67% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $66,962 |
West Haven is home to University of New Haven. There are 9 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,442 a month, and the average cost to attend is $66,962 a year. It ranks 4th for crime among the 15 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Bridgeport |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,534 (1 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 149,153 |
| Median rent | $1,450 |
| Graduation rate | 63% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $52,957 |
Bridgeport is home to University of Bridgeport. There are 1 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,450 a month, and the average cost to attend is $52,957 a year. It ranks 9th for crime among the 15 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Goodwin University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,693 (5 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 50,918 |
| Median rent | $1,225 |
| Graduation rate | 49% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $39,589 |
East Hartford is home to Goodwin University. There are 5 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,225 a month, and the average cost to attend is $39,589 a year. It ranks 8th for crime among the 15 towns we ranked.
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the best college towns in Connecticut
First, we decided that every town on the list had to have at least one four-year college -- a school that grants bachelor's degrees -- and at least 5,000 residents. There are 15 towns in Connecticut that fit the bill.
Then we ranked every town on these categories:
- The town: unemployment rate, median rent, and crime per capita
- The colleges: graduation rate, the average cost to attend, and student body diversity
- Things to do: bars, museums and libraries per capita, and population density
- Students: undergrads as a share of the population
- Size: population, since bigger towns have more going on
We ranked each town on every measure, averaged those ranks into a score for each category, and then averaged the categories. The town with the best overall score is the best college town in Connecticut.
Our data comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (enrollment, graduation rates, cost, and diversity), the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the FBI's 2024 crime report. We left out colleges that are online-only or mostly online, since their students don't actually live in town. A handful of towns don't report crime to the FBI, so we gave them the average.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best college towns in Connecticut.
Summary
There You Have It -- The Best College Towns In Connecticut
If you're looking for the best college towns in Connecticut, New Haven is where to start.
The best college towns in Connecticut are New Haven, Willimantic, New London, Hartford, Stamford, New Britain, Groton, West Haven, Bridgeport, and East Hartford.
For more college towns, check out the best college towns in America.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college town in Connecticut for 2026?
New Haven is the best college town in Connecticut for 2026, followed by Willimantic and New London.
How did you rank the best college towns in Connecticut?
We looked at every town in Connecticut with at least 5,000 residents and a four-year college, then ranked them on city characteristics, college characteristics, things to do, the share of residents who are students, and size. The town with the best average rank is number one.
What is the worst college town in Connecticut?
Danbury ranks last of the 15 college towns we ranked in Connecticut for 2026.
Best College Towns In Connecticut For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Undergrads | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Haven, CT | 134,349 | 14,044 | $1,488 |
| 2 | Willimantic, CT | 18,096 | 3,418 | $1,063 |
| 3 | New London, CT | 27,625 | 3,422 | $1,340 |
| 4 | Hartford, CT | 121,127 | 3,671 | $1,269 |
| 5 | Stamford, CT | 137,144 | 2,432 | $2,276 |
| 6 | New Britain, CT | 74,223 | 7,822 | $1,253 |
| 7 | Groton, CT | 9,490 | 454 | $1,250 |
| 8 | West Haven, CT | 55,351 | 4,841 | $1,442 |
| 9 | Bridgeport, CT | 149,153 | 1,534 | $1,450 |
| 10 | East Hartford, CT | 50,918 | 2,693 | $1,225 |
| 11 | Middletown, CT | 47,958 | 3,067 | $1,446 |
| 12 | Waterbury, CT | 114,869 | 733 | $1,225 |
| 13 | West Hartford, CT | 63,620 | 4,984 | $1,756 |
| 14 | Storrs, CT | 15,207 | 19,835 | $1,678 |
| 15 | Danbury, CT | 87,263 | 3,511 | $1,846 |
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