So, you’re curious about living in Connecticut? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
The expert movers, travelers, and worldwide locals that make up the team at Relocalate.com are here to help.
We’ve compiled the ultimate guides to answer the most common questions people just like you have about living in the great state of Connecticut.
Dive deep into the topics you’re interested in to make sure your new home in Connecticut matches what you’re looking for.
We’ll explore whether Connecticut is a good place for YOU to live, and we’ll highlight some of the best cities for you to visit, explore, and ultimately call home.
Pros and Cons of Living in Connecticut
You’ve heard it before, and it’s true: no place is perfect. What matters is how good of a fit it is for you.
Relocalate.com is here to help you decide whether Connecticut is the best place for YOU to live.
Here are some reasons to love living in Connecticut:
- Connecticut is full of natural beauty with mountains, hiking trails, sandy beaches on the coastlines (depending on where you live!).
- Finding a good job should be easy for you.
- One really cool thing about living in CT is getting to experience all four seasons! The summers here are hot and humid while it snows during winter time – within beautiful spring and fall weather in between. Very different from your average dry summer heat wave or whiteout snowstorm in many other parts of the country.
And, on the flip side, here are some of the downsides of living in Connecticut:
- Living here tends to be a lot more expensive than many other states. But, the cost of living is higher in Connecticut because the state has one of the highest average salaries.
- Connecticut boasts some great schools, but they’re very expensive – which makes them hard sometimes for people who live on a small budget.
- And then there are taxes! Yikes! The CT Income Tax and Sales Tax rates are pretty high compared to other states (though it depends on where you live). You can also expect a higher annual Property Tax rate if you buy property here too.
Read More: Is Connecticut a Good Place to Live?
Best Place to Live in Connecticut
So, you’ve got your heart set on living in Connecticut? Well, the decision making doesn’t end there. You’ve still got to decide where to live in Connecticut!
In some other articles, we’ll dive deeper into some of the best places to live in Connecticut.
Our experts have considered a whole bunch of different criteria to select the top locations, including:
- The best places to live for families, retirees, singles, young adults, outdoor lovers, foodies, and more.
- The safest places to live.
- The cheapest places to live.
- The best schools.
- The best job markets.
- The best housing markets.
- And so much more.
Just want a quick list? No worries, here are some of the best cities to live in Connecticut:
- Darien
- New Haven
- Stamford
- West Hartford
Read More: Best Places to Live in Connecticut
Checklist for Moving to Connecticut
So now you’re preparing for your big move to Connecticut. Maybe you’ve even started packing!
As you probably already know, there are a lot of things to take care of when you’re moving. Both in your current state and once you get to Connecticut.
Here are some of the major things you’ll want to take care of when you move to Connecticut:
- Updating your address with USPS.
- Getting your Connecticut driver’s license.
- Transferring your vehicle titles and registrations to Connecticut
- Getting Connecticut car insurance.
- Signing up for health insurance in Connecticut and finding new doctors, dentists, and local hospitals.
- Updating/changing other insurance policies you may need (homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, pet insurance, motorcycle insurance, etc.)
- Registering to vote in your district in Connecticut.
- Updating your address with your banks, credit cards, subscription services, loans, investments, phone plans, and bill pay.
- Enrolling your kids in their new school district.
- Licensing your pets and finding a new vet.
- Setting up your utilities for your new home.
- Preparing to file state taxes for Connecticut and your previous home state.
Visit your Connecticut Moving Checklist for a detailed guide on all of the above.
Read More: Moving to Connecticut Checklist
While we’re at it, let’s cover some high-level questions and fun facts about Connecticut.
Things to Know About Living in Connecticut
As you’re preparing for your move or getting settled into your new home in Connecticut, here are some things to know about living there.
Cost of Living in Connecticut
One thing to consider when moving to a new state is the relative cost of living.
Connecticut ranks 43rd on the Cost of Living Index with an overall rating of 120.4, meaning it’s a relatively expensive place to live.
Here is how Connecticut scores for the cost of living in each specific category:
- Groceries: 101.8
- Housing: 137.7
- Utilities: 132.3
- Transportation: 112.7
- Health: 112.2
- Miscellaneous: 114.1
The average cost of living in this index is scored at 100. The numbers above represent the percentage of the average. A number higher than 100 represents an above average cost of living, while a number lower than 100 represents a lower cost of living. A lower rank indicates a lower cost of living.
This data comes from the Cost of Living Index prepared by the Council for Economic Research (C2ER), which compiles data from cities across the country to rank and compare the differences in costs of living.
Sales Tax Rates in Connecticut
Sales tax is a way that state and local governments collect tax revenue from its residents and visitors.
These taxes are applied when you purchase something. It’ll show up on your receipt or bill. If you’ve recently moved to Connecticut from somewhere else, the new sales tax rates may surprise you.
On top of the state sales tax rates, local rates for certain counties and cities may apply and vary as well.
Connecticut’s state sales tax rate is higher than the national average at 6.35%.
Check with the Connecticut tax office for the most current tax rates.
Real-Estate Property Tax Rates in Connecticut
If you own or plan to own real estate in Connecticut, you’ll want to think about the property tax rates when you move there.
Connecticut ranks 48th (from low to high) for its state property tax rate of 2.14%.
There may be additional property taxes on top of the rate stated here depending on your county, city, and school districts.
Check with the Connecticut tax office for the most current tax rates.
Connecticut’s Job Market & Economy
Another thing to think about when moving to Connecticut is the job market and economic indicators.
Overall, Connecticut ranks 23rd for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States.
The GDP measures the overall monetary value of all goods and services produced within a certain place over a period of time.
Its top 10 industries (ranked from largest to smallest by economic contribution to the state) are:
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Finance and insurance
- Professional and business services
- Manufacturing
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance
- Wholesale trade
- Retail trade
- Information
- Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services
- Construction
The top employer in Connecticut is Yale New Haven Health System.
Notable Destinations and Landmarks in Connecticut
Our Connecticut moving guide wouldn’t be complete without a brief mention of some of the most iconic destinations in the state.
When you get settled in, a road trip may just be in order.
One of the most iconic landmarks in Connecticut is Yale University.
These destinations are all great places to visit when you get a chance.
Facts about Connecticut
Connecticut is the 5th state of the United States that lies in the northeast region. To its north is Massachusetts, to its south is the Atlantic Ocean, to its east is Rhode Island, and to its west is New York.
What is the capital of Connecticut?
The capital of Connecticut is Hartford.
Hartford is located in Hartford County with a population of 124,775.
What is the population of Connecticut?
The population of Connecticut based on 2020 US Census data is 3,605,944.
What is the largest city in Connecticut?
The largest city in Connecticut is Bridgeport.
Bridgeport has a population of 144,900, and it is located in Fairfield County.
What is the size of Connecticut?
Connecticut is 5,543 square miles, making it the 48th largest state in the U.S.
What is the state motto of Connecticut?
The state motto of Connecticut is: Qui transtulit sustinet
What is the state bird of Connecticut?
The state bird of Connecticut is the American robin.
What is the state flower of Connecticut?
The state flower of Connecticut is the Mountain laurel.
What is the state tree of Connecticut?
The state tree of Connecticut is the White Oak.
What is the minimum wage in the state of Connecticut?
The minimum wage in Connecticut is $13.00 per hour.
What is the median income in Connecticut?
The median annual household salary in Connecticut is $76,348.