Best counties to raise a family in Connecticut
Best counties to raise a family in Connecticut
Known in other parts of the world as shires, provinces, or territories, the United States’ counties (also known in certain states as boroughs or parishes) date back to the 1600s, when settlers first came to find freedom from British rule. Today, those counties remain, with the 50 states divided into several, each with its own unique makeup.
For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wishlists.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Connecticut using data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, healthcare, recreation and weather. Listings and images are from realtor.com.
The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you’ll find one that suits your brood.
#8. Windham County
- Median home value: $204,400 (69% own)
- Median rent: $946 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $66,550
- Top public schools: Parish Hill High School (B+), Pomfret Community School (B+), Hampton Elementary School (B)
- Top private schools: Pomfret School (A+), Marianapolis Preparatory School (A), Putnam Science Academy (A)
- Top places to live: Pomfret (B+), Woodstock (B+), Putnam (B)
- Pictured: 236 Deerfield Rd, Pomfret ($995,000, 3 bedrooms)
#7. Litchfield County
- Median home value: $251,000 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,065 (24% rent)
- Median household income: $79,906
- Top public schools: Salisbury Central School (A), Washington Primary School (A), The Burnham School (A)
- Top private schools: The Hotchkiss School (A+), The Taft School (A+), Kent School (A+)
- Top places to live: Roxbury (A), Barkhamsted (A-), Washington (A-)
- Pictured: 88 Good Hill Rd, Roxbury ($7.5 million, 4 bedrooms)
#6. Tolland County
- Median home value: $253,100 (72% own)
- Median rent: $1,155 (28% rent)
- Median household income: $87,069
- Top public schools: Annie E. Vinton School (A), Dorothy C. Goodwin School (A), Southeast Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Oak Grove Montessori Elementary School (unavailable), Mt. Hope Montessori School (unavailable), Hans Christian Andersen Montessori School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Mansfield (A), Hebron (A), Ellington (A-)
- Pictured: 54 Maxfelix Dr, Mansfield ($750,000, 5 bedrooms)
#5. New Haven County
- Median home value: $248,600 (62% own)
- Median rent: $1,153 (38% rent)
- Median household income: $69,905
- Top public schools: Daniel Hand High School (A+), Amity Regional High School (A+), Amity Middle School: Bethany (A+)
- Top private schools: Choate Rosemary Hall (A+), Hopkins School (A+), Westover School (A+)
- Top places to live: Woodbridge (A+), Cheshire (A+), Orange (A+)
- Pictured: 22 Penrhyn Rd, Woodbridge ($1.5 million, 6 bedrooms)
#4. Middlesex County
- Median home value: $286,800 (74% own)
- Median rent: $1,162 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $85,898
- Top public schools: Chester Elementary School (A), Old Saybrook Senior High School (A), Haddam Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Xavier High School (A), Mercy High School (A), The Oxford Academy (A+)
- Top places to live: Cromwell (A), Essex (A), Old Saybrook (A-)
- Pictured: 2 Arbor Meadow Dr, Cromwell ($704,301, 3 bedrooms)
#3. New London County
- Median home value: $241,700 (66% own)
- Median rent: $1,130 (34% rent)
- Median household income: $73,490
- Top public schools: Marine Science Magnet High School of Southeastern Connecticut (A+), Flanders School (A), Lillie B. Haynes School (A)
- Top private schools: The Williams School (A+), Academy of the Holy Family (A), Saint Bernard School (A)
- Top places to live: East Lyme (A), Mystic (A), Stonington (A)
- Pictured: 27 Rocco Dr, East Lyme ($1.6 million, 5 bedrooms)
#2. Hartford County
- Median home value: $240,600 (64% own)
- Median rent: $1,106 (36% rent)
- Median household income: $75,148
- Top public schools: Conard High School (A+), Hall High School (A+), Avon High School (A+)
- Top private schools: The Loomis Chaffee School (A+), Miss Porter's School (A+), Suffield Academy (A+)
- Top places to live: West Hartford (A+), Avon (A+), Simsbury (A+)
- Pictured: 162 Balfour Dr, West Hartford ($2.4 million, 5 bedrooms)
#1. Fairfield County
- Median home value: $428,500 (67% own)
- Median rent: $1,499 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $95,645
- Top public schools: Staples High School (A+), Darien High School (A+), New Canaan High School (A+)
- Top private schools: Greenwich Academy (A+), King School (A+), Brunswick School (A+)
- Top places to live: Southport (A+), Westport (A+), Fairfield (A+)
- Pictured: 1093 Pequot Ave, Southport ($14.5 million, 6 bedrooms)
