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Government Data Sources

All rankings computed from publicly available federal and state government datasets. No proprietary, synthetic, or estimated data is used.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (Dec 2025) Β· U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 Β· FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2024 Β· America's Health Rankings, 2025 Β· WalletHub/NAEP, 2025 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 Β· Cook Political Report, PVI 2024 Β· Tax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2025 Β· ALEC Rich States Poor States, 2025 Β· WalletHub Tax Burden Study, 2025 Β· U.S. Census Bureau / FHFA, 2025 Β· BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023 Β· EPA AirData, Median AQI by County 2024 Β· EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 Β· FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, 2025 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration 2024 Β· FCC / BroadbandNow, Broadband Access 2025 Β· National Park Service API, 2024 Β· USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US), 2024 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 (Commuting) Β· FHWA Highway Statistics, 2023 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022 Β· EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 Β· EIA Natural Gas Prices, 2024 Β· DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2023 Β· BEA Regional Price Parities (Food), 2023 Β· NCES Common Core of Data (CCD), 2023-24 Β· EDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates, 2021-22 Β· NCES School District Finance Survey (F-33), 2022-23 Β· BEA GDP by State (SAGDP9), 2023 Β· NASBO Fiscal Survey of States, FY2023 Β· Census Bureau State Government Finances, FY2022 Β· Pew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50, FY2023 Β· Pew Charitable Trusts, FY2022 Β· S&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia, 2025 Β· Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES (May 2023) Β· IRS Statistics of Income, Migration Data 2021-2022

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AMERICA'S DASHBOARDRank & Score Every US State
StatesCities
Best Places
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REAL DATA
National/CT/Best for Families
🏠

Best Cities for Families in Connecticut

#5 of 50Β·Families Score: 85.4Β·See all 50 states β†’
Violent Crime Rate
136
per 100K Β· FBI UCR
HS Graduation Rate
89%
NCES 2024
Median Income
$93,228
Census ACS 2024
Childcare Cost
$15,501/yr
Infant Β· DOL 2023
Median Home Price
$415,000
Census / FHFA

Why Connecticut Works for Families

Connecticut is one of the very best state for families, ranking #5 out of 50. With excellent schools, a low violent crime rate of 136 per 100K residents, and a median household income of $93,228, the state offers a solid foundation for raising children. Housing costs track close to the national average with a cost-of-living index of 104.

Education is the single most important factor for families choosing where to live, and Connecticut delivers on this front. The state's high school graduation rate stands at 89%, roughly in line with national norms. School quality has been a consistent strength, reflected in an education score of 98/100. At $15,501 per year for infant care, childcare is a significant budget item that families need to plan for.

Safety is the other pillar of family-friendly living. Connecticut excels here with one of the lowest violent crime rates in the country at 136 incidents per 100,000 residents. The higher cost of living (index: 104) means families typically need above-average incomes to maintain a comfortable standard of living.

All 20 Cities Ranked for Families

#CityGradeFamilies ScoreOverallEducationSafetyAffordabilityPopulation
1Milford city
A+
69.764.298935450,749
2Shelton
A+
68.266.180994841,402
3West Hartford
A+
67.966.588815563,809
4Middletown
A
67.461.185916047,646
5Stamford
A+
65.764.2818743136,212
6Bristol
B+
65.359.777956261,129
7Norwalk
A
64.962.279894792,460
8Naugatuck
B+
62.959.172915631,634
9Torrington
B
62.656.074906035,481
10Danbury
B+
61.258.463855386,125
11West Haven
B
60.754.968886055,147
12Manchester
B
60.654.068866236,561
13Norwich
B
60.353.272846439,992
14East Hartford
B
59.253.468816450,798
15Meriden
C+
58.052.667766360,418
16New Britain
C
55.149.175586474,064
17Bridgeport
C
53.948.2537260148,006
18New Haven
C
51.647.2654560135,307
19Waterbury
D
50.643.0655959114,994
20Hartford
D
50.042.9684963119,674

Compare: States with Similar Families Rankings

New Hampshire
#192.0
Maine
#286.2
Utah
#385.8
Vermont
#485.4

Also See: Connecticut for Other Lifestyles

πŸ–οΈ
Retirees
#16
πŸ’»
Remote Workers
#38
πŸ’Ό
Young Professionals
#17
πŸͺ
Small Business
#23
🌲
Outdoor Enthusiasts
#17

Data Sources

πŸ“ŽBureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (Dec 2025)πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024πŸ“ŽFBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2024πŸ“ŽAmerica's Health Rankings, 2025πŸ“ŽWalletHub/NAEP, 2025πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024πŸ“ŽCook Political Report, PVI 2024πŸ“ŽTax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2025πŸ“ŽALEC Rich States Poor States, 2025πŸ“ŽWalletHub Tax Burden Study, 2025πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau / FHFA, 2025πŸ“ŽBEA Regional Price Parities, 2023πŸ“ŽEPA AirData, Median AQI by County 2024πŸ“ŽEIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024πŸ“ŽFEMA National Risk Index v1.20, 2025πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration 2024πŸ“ŽFCC / BroadbandNow, Broadband Access 2025πŸ“ŽNational Park Service API, 2024πŸ“ŽUSGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US), 2024πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 (Commuting)πŸ“ŽFHWA Highway Statistics, 2023πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022πŸ“ŽEIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024πŸ“ŽEIA Natural Gas Prices, 2024πŸ“ŽDOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2023πŸ“ŽBEA Regional Price Parities (Food), 2023πŸ“ŽNCES Common Core of Data (CCD), 2023-24πŸ“ŽEDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates, 2021-22πŸ“ŽNCES School District Finance Survey (F-33), 2022-23πŸ“ŽBEA GDP by State (SAGDP9), 2023πŸ“ŽNASBO Fiscal Survey of States, FY2023πŸ“ŽCensus Bureau State Government Finances, FY2022πŸ“ŽPew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50, FY2023πŸ“ŽPew Charitable Trusts, FY2022πŸ“ŽS&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia, 2025πŸ“ŽBureau of Labor Statistics, OES (May 2023)πŸ“ŽIRS Statistics of Income, Migration Data 2021-2022