14 Best and Worst Towns in CT to Buy a Home

A report earlier this year suggested that half of Connecticut residents would move out of state if they could. But for those looking to stick around and settle down, which are the best towns to purchase a home?

Over the last four weeks, we’ve crunched the numbers behind the most important factors homebuyers consider when choosing a town to buy property in, including the average salary paid by local businesses; median monthly costs for homeowners; how many new homeowners are moving in and how long residents tend to stay in town; as well as the average commute and median earnings broken down by type of transportation.

For our full ranking, we’ve taken the most important indicators from each factor and added in the average school classification for the local public school district, based on data from the State Department of Education. (Learn more about the classifications and per pupil spending here.)

While many of the towns to top the list are smaller communities close to larger towns or cities, a few of those larger urban areas made the list, as well, such as Waterbury at No. 6.

The 14 best towns to buy real estate are counted down in the list above and the 14 towns with the lowest total points are listed below.

Find an interactive map with the point breakdown for each town in Connecticut here, along with a full explanation of the methodology used.

Worst Towns to Buy Real Estate

• Average School Classification: 4.26
• School Points: 50
• Cost per Month: $1,560
• Cost Points: 100
• Average Salary Paid: $46,305
• Payroll Points: 46
• Percent in Same Home: 94.79 percent
• Same Home Points: 75
• New Residents percent Capita: 5.21
• New People Points: 50
• Median Years in Town: 12
• Tenure Points: 60
• Average Commute: 26.25 minutes
• Commute Points: 75

• Average School Classification: 3
• School Points: 75
• Cost per Month: $2,070
• Cost Points: 75
• Average Salary Paid: $38,147
• Payroll Points: 38
• Percent in Same Home: 97.1 percent
• Same Home Points: 100
• New Residents percent Capita: 2.9
• New People Points: 50
• Median Years in Town: 18
• Tenure Points: 90
• Average Commute: 31.88 minutes
• Commute Points: 50

• Average School Classification: 3
• School Points: 75
• Cost per Month: $1,713
• Cost Points: 100
• Average Salary Paid: $32,000
• Payroll Points: 32
• Percent in Same Home: 96.08 percent
• Same Home Points: 100
• New Residents percent Capita: 3.92
• New People Points: 25
• Median Years in Town: 13
• Tenure Points: 65
• Average Commute: 32.41 minutes
• Commute Points: 50

• Average School Classification: 1.5
• School Points: 125
• Cost per Month: $2,972
• Cost Points: 50
• Average Salary Paid: $48,573
• Payroll Points: 49
• Percent in Same Home: 95.22 percent
• Same Home Points: 75
• New Residents percent Capita: 4.78
• New People Points: 50
• Median Years in Town: 14
• Tenure Points: 70
• Average Commute: 36.05 minutes
• Commute Points: 25

• Average School Classification: 3
• School Points: 75
• Cost per Month: $1,575
• Cost Points: 100
• Average Salary Paid: $19,041
• Payroll Points: 19
• Percent in Same Home: 94.88 percent
• Same Home Points: 75
• New Residents percent Capita: 5.12
• New People Points: 50
• Median Years in Town: 15
• Tenure Points: 75
• Average Commute: 33.47 minutes
• Commute Points: 50

• Average School Classification: 1.4
• School Points: 125
• Cost per Month: $3,671
• Cost Points: 25
• Average Salary Paid: $67,566
• Payroll Points: 68
• Percent in Same Home: 94.63 percent
• Same Home Points: 75
• New Residents percent Capita: 5.37
• New People Points: 50
• Median Years in Town: 15
• Tenure Points: 75
• Average Commute: 36.56 minutes
• Commute Points: 25

• Average School Classification: 2
• School Points: 100
• Cost per Month: $2,104
• Cost Points: 75
• Average Salary Paid: $43,179
• Payroll Points: 43
• Percent in Same Home: 89.32 percent
• Same Home Points: 0
• New Residents percent Capita: 10.68
• New People Points: 125
• Median Years in Town: 15
• Tenure Points: 75
• Average Commute: 37.89 minutes
• Commute Points: 25

• Average School Classification: 2
• School Points: 100
• Cost per Month: $1,630
• Cost Points: 100
• Average Salary Paid: $42,354
• Payroll Points: 42
• Percent in Same Home: 94.31 percent
• Same Home Points: 75
• New Residents percent Capita: 5.69
• New People Points: 50
• Median Years in Town: 15
• Tenure Points: 75
• Average Commute: N/A
• Commute Points: 0

• Average School Classification: 2.4
• School Points: 100
• Cost per Month: $2,046
• Cost Points: 75
• Average Salary Paid: N/A
• Payroll Points: 0
• Percent in Same Home: 94.8 percent
• Same Home Points: 75
• New Residents percent Capita: 5.2
• New People Points: 50
• Median Years in Town: 13
• Tenure Points: 65
• Average Commute: 25.61 minutes
• Commute Points: 75

• Average School Classification: 1.83
• School Points: 125
• Cost per Month: $2,071
• Cost Points: 75
• Average Salary Paid: $42,800
• Payroll Points: 43
• Percent in Same Home: 100 percent
• Same Home Points: 150
• New Residents percent Capita: 0
• New People Points: 0
• Median Years in Town: 8
• Tenure Points: 40
• Average Commute: N/A
• Commute Points: 0

• Average School Classification: 2
• School Points: 100
• Cost per Month: $3,411
• Cost Points: 25
• Average Salary Paid: $41,195
• Payroll Points: 41
• Percent in Same Home: 93.74 percent
• Same Home Points: 50
• New Residents percent Capita: 6.26
• New People Points: 75
• Median Years in Town: 17
• Tenure Points: 85
• Average Commute: 34.12 minutes
• Commute Points: 50

• Average School Classification: 3
• School Points: 75
• Cost per Month: $1,718
• Cost Points: 100
• Average Salary Paid: $44,259
• Payroll Points: 44
• Percent in Same Home: 94.9 percent
• Same Home Points: 75
• New Residents percent Capita: 5.1
• New People Points: 50
• Median Years in Town: 14
• Tenure Points: 70
• Average Commute: N/A
• Commute Points: 0

• Average School Classification: 3
• School Points: 75
• Cost per Month: $2,000
• Cost Points: 75
• Average Salary Paid: $29,167
• Payroll Points: 29
• Percent in Same Home: 86.89 percent
• Same Home Points: 0
• New Residents percent Capita: 13.11
• New People Points: 150
• Median Years in Town: 16
• Tenure Points: 80
• Average Commute: N/A
• Commute Points: 0

• Average School Classification: 1.5
• School Points: 125
• Cost per Month: $4,000+
• Cost Points: 0
• Average Salary Paid: $49,333
• Payroll Points: 49
• Percent in Same Home: 95.09 percent
• Same Home Points: 75
• New Residents percent Capita: 4.91
• New People Points: 50
• Median Years in Town: 14
• Tenure Points: 70
• Average Commute: 41.32 minutes
• Commute Points: 25