The cheapest places to live in Connecticut in 2024 couldn’t be more attractive.
Yes, Connecticut is renowned for Yale University in New Haven, and the Gillette Castle State Park in East Haddam, but a lesser-known gem of the Constitution State is its array of affordable places to live. Amidst the rising cost of living, it is wonderful to discover some genuinely cheap yet great places to live in Connecticut.
To help you find the cheapest places to live in Connecticut for 2024, we used Saturday Night Science to look at the cost of living, average home prices, and rents across Connecticut. Many of the most affordable places in Connecticut are also top-rated for family living.
Attactive indeed.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary
The 10 most affordable places to live in Connecticut
According to the most recent census data, what’s the cheapest place to live in Connecticut? The cheapest place to live in Connecticut for 2024 is Willimantic.
If you care about home values and affordability, take a look at the list below to see where your Connecticut dollar will go the furthest.
Check out some more reading about Connecticut and the cheapest places in the country:
The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Connecticut For 2024
/10
Population: 17,762
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 101
Median Income: $45,723
Median Home Price: $225,900
Median Rent: $1,060
Willimantic, in Windham County, has been on several lists this year, including as the most affordable city in the Nutmeg State. The city has a median home value of 225,900, the third best for affordability, coupled with a median rent of $1,060.
While the 40-minute trip to Hartford might present the best possibility for a night out, locally, you’ll have cheaper options like Mansfield Hollow State Park and the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum.
More on Willimantic: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 74,212
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 102
Median Income: $53,766
Median Home Price: $251,760
Median Rent: $1,136
Located just southwest of Hartford, New Britain ranks as the second least expensive city in Connecticut.
Whether you’re enjoying the rose garden in Walnut Hill Park or catching an exhibition at the Museum of American Art, you’ll never be left wondering what to do with yourself on the weekend in New Britain. That’s part of the reason we named it one of the best cities for singles in Connecticut. The fact that you can enjoy all this on a shoestring budget is just icing on the cake. New Britain has the eighth cheapest homes on the market in CT, with a median price tag of $251,760.
More on New Britain: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 6,880
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 102
Median Income: $66,250
Median Home Price: $238,921
Median Rent: $1,118
In the scenic northwest corner of Connecticut’s Litchfield County, Winsted wins out for its affordable standing. Holding the third spot for cheap living in Connecticut, the city has a low 102 overall cost of living index. The modest $238,921 home prices provide more money in your wallet for spending outside the house.
If you’re looking for something cheap to do in town, Winsted has the American Mural Project, the Whiting Mills art studios, and the scenic views of Highland Lake.
More on Winsted: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 6,951
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 103
Median Income: $49,823
Median Home Price: $215,396
Median Rent: $1,074
Rockville, nestled in Tolland County, is the fourth most budget-friendly city in the state. Housing affordability shines with the second lowest home values.
The overall cost of living is 13.4% lower than the Connecticut average. In Rockville, CT, you can explore the New England Motorcycle Museum, visit the Shenipsit State Forest, or take a trip to the Connecticut Trolley Museum for an affordable and fun day out.
More on Rockville: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 114,480
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 104
Median Income: $51,451
Median Home Price: $232,478
Median Rent: $1,140
One of the biggest cities in Connecticut, Waterbury clocks in as the fifth cheapest place to call home in the state. You’d be hard-pressed to find a less expensive house than one in Waterbury, where the median home price is the fourth lowest in the state at $232,478. That puts Waterbury firmly in the top ten in terms of home price to income ratio. Which leaves plenty of money left over to catch a show at the famous Palace Theater.
On the flip side, Waterbury is the least economical place to rent on this list and the city does have a bit of a crime problem.
More on Waterbury: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 50,942
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 104
Median Income: $64,244
Median Home Price: $258,022
Median Rent: $1,163
East Hartford offers notable affordability with its sixth lowest cost of living index in the region with an overall index of 104. The overall cost of living is 15 points better than the state average.
Housing costs make the biggest impact on the cost of living around Connecticut, and East Hartford has a median home price of $258,022. That saves money to spend on local activities like the Great River Park and the Glow at Hartford.
More on East Hartford: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 7,207
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 104
Median Income: $60,539
Median Home Price: $294,924
Median Rent: $1,105
You’ll win more than just a spelling bee when you move to Putnam. You’ll win the knowledge of living in the seventh cheapest places to live in Connecticut.
While the cost of living is higher than the national average, it’s cheap for Connecticut. Services, groceries, and healthcare are relatively low for the area.
More on Putnam: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 27,596
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 105
Median Income: $56,237
Median Home Price: $260,757
Median Rent: $1,178
New London is the eighth most affordable across Connecticut. Its modest median home value of $260,757 and a favorable home-price-to-income ratio make attaining housing possible. The presence of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy adds to the city’s appeal, offering a dynamic employer to Connecticut’s southeastern corner.
The overall cost of living in New London is 11.8% lower than the Connecticut average.
More on New London: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 121,057
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 106
Median Income: $41,841
Median Home Price: $171,873
Median Rent: $1,154
Hartford, Connecticut’s ninth most affordable city, has a median home value of $171,873 and an average rent of $1,154.
With a population of 121,057, it offers the amenities of a large city without the hefty price tag, evidenced by an overall cost of living index at 106. Hartford has cheap things to do, like visiting the Mark Twain House & Museum, exploring the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, or taking a stroll in Bushnell Park.
More on Hartford: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 40,054
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 106
Median Income: $62,713
Median Home Price: $243,007
Median Rent: $1,159
Norwich is a port city located at the mouth of the Thames River in eastern Connecticut that has some seriously sweet deals on housing. Norwich boasts the sixth cheapest homes in the state and, more importantly, the 19th best home price to income ratio. It doesn’t matter if you’re in Thamesville or across the river in Laurel Hill; there’s something for everyone in Norwich. Especially if you’re into gambling, seeing as Mohegan Sun is just a short drive away.
Hey, with all the money you’re saving on housing, you can afford to hit the blackjack table every now and then.
More on Norwich: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Cheapest places to live in Connecticut FAQs
The county in Connecticut with the lowest cost of living is Fairfield County. The average living wage in Fairfield County is $107,191 according to MIT data. Fairfield County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to Connecticut as a whole. Childcare costs $22,084 a year in Fairfield County for two children compared to the Connecticut average of $19,219. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $20,654 per year in Fairfield County compared to $17,169 on average in Connecticut.
The cost of living in Connecticut is 11.4% higher than the US average. According to MIT, the required living wage for a family of four with two working parents in Connecticut is $99,955 vs the national average for a family of four with two working parents of $89,744. The median income of a Connecticut household is $79,855.
The cheapest housing market in Connecticut is Waterbury. The average home value in Waterbury is $132,700, the lowest in the state. The average home value in Connecticut is $279,700, almost 2.1 times higher than Waterbury.
Methodology: How we determined the most affordable places to live in the Constitution State for 2024
Determining affordability for places in Connecticut boils down to how much it costs to live here.
You need to understand your costs relative to what people in the rest of the state are paying.
With that logic in mind, we derived several cost of living statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2018-2022 for Connecticut using Saturday Night Science. We indexed the cost of living statistics across the following categories:
- Housing
- Transportation
- Services
- Groceries
- Healthcare
- Utilities
These are then weighted together to produce an overall cost of living index where 100 is the United States average. Anything below 100 is relatively affordable. Anything over 100 is relatively expensive.
We applied the biggest weight to housing as it typically accounts for 25% or more of your budget. Additionally, housing costs are the highest variant cost across a state. We then compare these cost of living metrics for each place in Connecticut to figure out which is the least expensive.
The “Cost of Living Index” allows you to rank all of the 54 places in Connecticut that have more than 5,000 people from least expensive to most expensive. Any ties went to the larger city.
The place in Connecticut with the lowest cost of living according to the data is Willimantic.
We updated this article for 2024. This report reflects our tenth time ranking the cheapest places to live in Connecticut.
Connecticut Affordabilility Summary
This is an accurate list of the most affordable places to live in Connecticut for 2024, if you’re looking at the cost of living numbers in Connecticut.
The cheapest cities in Connecticut are Willimantic, New Britain, Winsted, Rockville, Waterbury, East Hartford, Putnam, New London, Hartford, and Norwich.
Here’s a look at the most expensive cities in Connecticut according to the data:
- Old Greenwich
- Riverside
- Cos Cob
For more Connecticut reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Connecticut
- Richest Cities In Connecticut
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Connecticut
Cheapest Places To Live In Connecticut
| Rank | City | Population | Cost Of Living Index | Median Income | Home Prices | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Willimantic | 17,762 | 101 | $45,723 | $225,900 | $1,060 |
| 2 | New Britain | 74,212 | 102 | $53,766 | $251,760 | $1,136 |
| 3 | Winsted | 6,880 | 102 | $66,250 | $238,921 | $1,118 |
| 4 | Rockville | 6,951 | 103 | $49,823 | $215,396 | $1,074 |
| 5 | Waterbury | 114,480 | 104 | $51,451 | $232,478 | $1,140 |
| 6 | East Hartford | 50,942 | 104 | $64,244 | $258,022 | $1,163 |
| 7 | Putnam | 7,207 | 104 | $60,539 | $294,924 | $1,105 |
| 8 | New London | 27,596 | 105 | $56,237 | $260,757 | $1,178 |
| 9 | Hartford | 121,057 | 106 | $41,841 | $171,873 | $1,154 |
| 10 | Norwich | 40,054 | 106 | $62,713 | $243,007 | $1,159 |
| 11 | Manchester | 37,015 | 106 | $73,265 | $279,308 | $1,289 |
| 12 | Torrington | 35,510 | 106 | $66,616 | $247,430 | $1,086 |
| 13 | Meriden | 60,556 | 107 | $63,671 | $266,816 | $1,191 |
| 14 | Thompsonville | 8,097 | 107 | $57,662 | $258,192 | $1,347 |
| 15 | Bristol | 61,052 | 108 | $82,094 | $286,446 | $1,228 |
| 16 | Naugatuck | 31,653 | 108 | $91,145 | $295,263 | $1,238 |
| 17 | Groton | 9,364 | 109 | $64,611 | $374,397 | $1,100 |
| 18 | Windsor Locks | 12,563 | 110 | $85,570 | $281,620 | $1,303 |
| 19 | Southwood Acres | 7,928 | 110 | $101,939 | $276,937 | $1,622 |
| 20 | Hazardville | 6,123 | 110 | $93,486 | $261,847 | $1,208 |
| 21 | Bridgeport | 148,470 | 111 | $54,440 | $305,486 | $1,369 |
| 22 | West Haven | 55,336 | 111 | $72,827 | $302,368 | $1,322 |
| 23 | Derby | 12,373 | 111 | $69,835 | $294,531 | $1,301 |
| 24 | Oakville | 9,387 | 112 | $82,701 | $308,651 | $1,319 |
| 25 | Portland | 6,417 | 112 | $94,923 | $354,774 | $1,192 |
| 26 | Sherwood Manor | 5,731 | 112 | $98,980 | $271,396 | $1,662 |
| 27 | Middletown | 48,152 | 113 | $75,120 | $302,920 | $1,312 |
| 28 | Wethersfield | 27,192 | 113 | $108,656 | $353,993 | $1,244 |
| 29 | New Haven | 135,736 | 114 | $54,305 | $279,194 | $1,402 |
| 30 | Ansonia | 18,954 | 114 | $67,474 | $318,783 | $1,329 |
| 31 | New Milford | 7,095 | 115 | $70,625 | $412,440 | $1,313 |
| 32 | Pawcatuck | 5,570 | 115 | $70,927 | $371,844 | $1,162 |
| 33 | Newington | 30,458 | 116 | $100,239 | $311,580 | $1,401 |
| 34 | East Haven | 27,871 | 116 | $83,489 | $305,502 | $1,342 |
| 35 | Storrs | 17,606 | 117 | $27,793 | $367,128 | $1,615 |
| 36 | Kensington | 9,580 | 117 | $99,423 | $341,309 | $1,390 |
| 37 | Wallingford Center | 18,738 | 119 | $83,618 | $331,641 | $1,172 |
| 38 | Glastonbury Center | 7,959 | 122 | $104,557 | $425,486 | $1,657 |
| 39 | Cheshire Village | 5,879 | 123 | $107,577 | $448,004 | $1,066 |
| 40 | Branford Center | 6,201 | 124 | $76,500 | $332,820 | $1,366 |
| 41 | West Hartford | 64,088 | 125 | $124,150 | $423,572 | $1,608 |
| 42 | Simsbury Center | 6,110 | 125 | $120,435 | $412,636 | $1,904 |
| 43 | Danbury | 86,456 | 126 | $79,983 | $431,374 | $1,726 |
| 44 | Bethel | 11,551 | 126 | $79,500 | $491,015 | $1,457 |
| 45 | North Haven | 24,179 | 127 | $121,250 | $405,967 | $1,445 |
| 46 | Shelton | 41,206 | 131 | $112,366 | $484,367 | $1,539 |
| 47 | Orange | 14,231 | 138 | $138,514 | $554,284 | $1,954 |
| 48 | Norwalk | 91,050 | 143 | $97,879 | $560,154 | $1,861 |
| 49 | Stamford | 135,413 | 156 | $100,718 | $611,989 | $2,129 |
| 50 | Ridgefield | 7,655 | 174 | $139,490 | $850,190 | $2,032 |
| 51 | Greenwich | 14,051 | 211 | $128,839 | $1,939,194 | $2,056 |
| 52 | Cos Cob | 7,243 | 213 | $185,125 | $1,342,010 | $2,412 |
| 53 | Riverside | 9,093 | 242 | $250,001 | $1,918,050 | $2,218 |
| 54 | Old Greenwich | 7,060 | 270 | $240,417 | $1,924,063 | $3,501 |
