9 Finest Locations to Dwell in Connecticut

Hartford

Connecticut’s capital is a real gem, providing residents a wonderful faculty system, charming neighborhoods, top-notch healthcare services, cultural actions, and recreation. “We’re really spoiled,” Paula Ostop, a dealer at William Raveis Actual Property/Luxurious Portfolio Worldwide, stated of town, ranked quantity 13 for high quality of life in U.S. Information’s newest report.

She defined that West Hartford Heart stays the most well-liked leisure district, and houses positioned there are in very excessive demand. Architectural types differ between colonial, Cape Cod, and ranch types.

Actual property values are additionally on the inexpensive facet, with median residence costs at round $170,000, in line with Zillow.

Weatogue

This quaint village northwest of Hartford alongside the Farmington River is steeped in historical past. Weatogue is residence to many noteworthy spots together with the “haunted” Pettibone Tavern (now Abigail’s Grille and Wine Bar) and the East Weatogue Historic District, however the most well-liked space with newcomers is ​​Latimer Lane.

“It is loaded with enclaves, in addition to the beloved Latimer Lane Elementary College – a spot the place youngsters can journey their bikes to the college or stroll,” Geena Becker of William Raveis Actual Property defined. “When it comes to residence types, again within the ’60s and ’70s, builders constructed raised ranches and colonials with a couple of [Cape Cod-style homes].”

At present, the median residence worth in Weatogue is round $420,000, which signifies a 12 % enhance since final yr and is increased than the nationwide median. An identical image emerges with the broader price of residing: Residents spend about 5 % extra than the U.S. common on bills like groceries, childcare, and transportation.

Farmington

“Farmington [is] a suburb of Hartford nestled within the picturesque Farmington Valley, [and it] offers the proper setting for households to flourish,” William Raveis Actual Property dealer Lisa Sweeney stated, highlighting its sturdy sense of group, handy facilities, and quick access to purchasing and highways.

Farmington is over 350 years outdated, and because of cautious city planning and preservation, its residents can get pleasure from its historic character and attraction.

“The housing market in Farmington and throughout the valley is strong and thriving,” Sweeney added and defined that potential patrons ought to anticipate intense competitors for the few accessible properties “leading to provides exceeding asking costs and minimal contingencies.” The present median residence worth is round $460,000, in line with Zillow.

Glastonbury

Named the third-best place to reside in Connecticut by Area of interest.com, Glastonbury has round 35,000 full-time residents who get pleasure from entry to top-notch public faculties, wonderful sports activities packages, family-friendly facilities, and countless outside actions. This riverfront city is an ideal vacation spot for water sports activities lovers and anglers, and it is also called the house of the oldest constantly working cider mill within the nation.

“South Glastonbury is quaint with its retailers and eating places, in addition to its nation farms and prime location alongside the Connecticut River,” native dealer Harry Finer stated, including that vintage properties are highly regarded, however there’s additionally numerous new residences and luxurious properties.

Nevertheless, residence costs listed here are rapidly rising, with present values round $510,000, 14 % increased than final yr.

Previous Greenwich

Nestled alongside Connecticut’s “Gold Coast,” Previous Greenwich attracts many urbanites searching for escape from the hustle and bustle of New York Metropolis. Carolyn Petersen, a Houlihan Lawrence/Luxurious Portfolio Worldwide dealer, compares the city to Stars Hole, the fictional idyllic metropolis in Gilmore Ladies.

“One can reside in Previous Greenwich via all seasons of life, and plenty of do — that is why Previous Greenwich has been such a wildly standard alternative for these searching for a transfer,” Petersen added.

The city’s tight-knit group is a serious draw, too. “On any given day, you’ll be able to volunteer with the Previous Greenwich Affiliation, plant daffodil bulbs with the Buddies of Binney Park, attend a nature stroll with the Buddies of Greenwich Level Park (Tod’s Level to the locals!), purchase crops from the Backyard Membership of Previous Greenwich, store on the Previous Greenwich Farmer’s Market, play tennis in town courts, attend a e-book membership at Perrot Library, and end with a classy, but informal dinner at one among quite a few stylish eating places,” she stated.

Nevertheless, stock on this ritzy group is low, and houses include eye-watering value tags. The present median worth is over $2 million, with over half of properties promoting above asking value, in line with Zillow.

Stamford

Manhattanites love this vibrant group alongside the Lengthy Island Sound for its proximity to town (simply 35 miles away, with specific trains operating every day), various group, many cultural choices and occasions, pure landmarks, public parks, and seashores. Native actual property agent Meghan Athnos of Brown Harris Stevens/Luxurious Portfolio Worldwide known as it a “distinctive and great place to reside.”

However it is usually a spot with a extremely aggressive actual property market. In line with Athnos, ​​57 % of properties offered over the asking value within the first quarter of 2024, and the common list-to-sale value ratio was a report excessive of 101.8 %. Moreover, properties spend lower than two weeks in the marketplace earlier than they go from for-sale to pending standing.

The present median residence worth is round $660,000, however Athnos defined that there’s a lot of selection on the subject of property varieties, “from vintage colonials to charming Capes, ranch-style properties to trendy contemporaries, downtown townhomes to high-rise flats, and every thing in between,” she added.

New Haven

The historic attraction of New Haven blends with its trendy spirit for a various group that’s residence to one of many nation’s most prestigious universities, Yale. Town is chock-full of nice eating places, museums, bars, music venues, espresso retailers, and unbiased companies catering to New Haven’s 135,000 residents, a fourth of that are college students. The unemployment charge right here is about the identical because the nationwide common, or 3.8 %, with many corporations establishing store within the space to draw extremely educated and expert workers.

The price of residing in New Haven is about 9 % increased than the nationwide common. Against this, actual property is comparatively inexpensive, with median residence values at about $300,000.

Westport

With its stunning seashores, various neighborhoods, nice faculties, and plenty of retailers and eating places, Westport has change into standard with households and younger professionals searching for proximity to New York Metropolis and concrete facilities in a quaint setting.

“Westport is the proper mix of New York Metropolis-inspired sophistication and New England coastal attraction,” Amy Swanson, vice chairman of gross sales at William Raveis Actual Property/Luxurious Portfolio Worldwide, stated.

The city is nestled alongside the Lengthy Island Sound and the banks of the Saugatuck River, providing an abundance of water recreation and gorgeous waterfront views. Town’s actual property market definitely displays its many facilities and wonderful high quality of life. Median residence costs have been on a gentle upward trajectory for a couple of years, and the present median residence worth is $1,777,000.

Weston

Weston’s tranquility, historic neighborhoods, wonderful public faculties, and low crime charges have made the city a magnet for younger households, particularly these searching for a lush pure setting (over a fourth of town is preserved as open areas), outside recreation (together with entry to nation golf equipment and their sports activities services), and proximity to seashores and New York Metropolis. The city ranked within the prime 10 communities to boost a household in Connecticut on Area of interest.com, and the median age of Weston residents is 46 years outdated.

All these perks include a aggressive actual property market, with residence costs almost reaching the $1.5 million mark in Could, which, in line with Zillow, has primarily doubled since mid-2020. The city shouldn’t be precisely recognized for its affordability, as the price of residing is 25 % increased than the nationwide common and 9 % above the Connecticut common.