The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Connecticut

The Constitution State, Connecticut, is home to beautiful foliage, amazing education, and delicious seafood. Its proximity to Boston and New York provide a major incentive to make Connecticut home, and the state is linked with an image of upper-crust living. However, believe it or not, some cities in Connecticut do offer affordable living costs, so where are the cheapest places to live in Connecticut?

Some of the cheapest places to live in Connecticut are Torrington, Naugatuck, Norwich, Meriden, and Bristol. These areas have low costs of living and median home values under $200,000. Unfortunately, many of these areas are also experiencing distress through very low incomes, high poverty rates, and low education rates.

As you go through this list, you may notice many similarities in average costs and incomes, particularly between New Britain and Waterbury. Several of the communities on this list are quite near each other. Middletown, New Britain, Waterbury, Meriden, Naugatuck, and Bristol are all within a range of about 20 miles from each other or from Hartford.

Housing costs in Middletown are below the national average and are only 88 on the cost of living index. The median home value according to the 2019 census is $231,300.

Single residents of Middletown, CT average $34,226 per year, and households have a $61,373 for the median outcome. The low average wages in Middletown make owning a home unattainable for many residents, but rent costs are moderate.

You can expect to pay an average of $1,263 per month, for a 2-bedroom, depending on the features of a specific unit. A single-income household would just barely meet the goal of spending no more than 30 percent of income on housing if they secured a 1-bedroom rental of an average $1,113 cost.

Driving costs in Middletown are on par with most of the United States. Right now, you will pay between $3.45 and $3.50 per gallon at the pump in Middletown.

Milford, Connecticut, sits on the coast and offers a more generous average income for both individuals and households than Middletown. Single Milford residents earn $40,797 per year, and households bring in $80,743 yearly. Right now, 68.5% of Milford’s population own their homes, and the median value of them is $312,500.

The average monthly housing costs for Milford residents who own their own homes are $2,217, so a decent standard of living is actually attainable in Milford, and in a coastal area, no less. The average cost per square foot for homes is only $218, so the homes there are not tiny little city dwellings.

If homeownership is not in the cards, Milford residents will find the average monthly rent to be reasonable. Milford residents spend an average of $1,478 per month on rent, and there are many options available. Utilities bills are fairly high in Milford, no doubt due to the hot summers and cold, biting wind coming off the water in winters.

If you are fortunate enough to have a steady income stream, homes can be purchased quite inexpensively in New Britain. The community suffers from low incomes, and the home prices are also correspondingly low. Less than half – only 40 percent – of all New Britain residents own their homes.

While a median home price of $191,600 may seem low, that can be hard to wrangle on an average per capita income is just $23,101 and average household income is $50,515.

Roughly twenty-one percent of New Britain residents live in poverty. Only 80 percent of residents 25 years or older have high school or equivalent degrees.

Monthly housing costs are low in New Britain, and most homeowners spend $1,682 each month, including mortgage. The majority of homes have a current value of about $100,000 to $200,000.

Apartments are not as inexpensive in New Britain as one would hope. A one-bedroom rental averages $920 per month, which would end up be one-half of a single person’s monthly income. A two-bedroom averages $1,136.

Waterbury’s financial situation is similarly challenging to its residents as New Britain’s, but newcomers have the opportunity to find low-cost housing. Of current residents, the average per capita income is $23,128, and the average income for one person is $21,251.

Just as with New Britain, less than half of residents own their own homes; the homeownership rate is 35.4 percent in Waterbury. The median home price is $173,500, and that must be done with an average household income of only $42,401.

Twenty-three percent of New Britain residents live in poverty. Only 79.6 percent of residents 25 years or older have high school or equivalent degrees.

Monthly housing costs only total $1,587 each month, including mortgage. The majority of houses have a value of between $100,000 and $150,000.

A two-bedroom rental averages $1,185 per month.

West Haven is a coastal city on the Long Island Sound that features a two-hour public transit commute to New York City. For those who can handle the trip into town, a lot of houses can be purchased with a big-city salary.

The median home value in West Haven is $255,500, and 48.5 percent of residents are homeowners. Total average monthly bills are $1,955 in West Haven, and that includes mortgage payments.

Monthly rental costs average $1,311 in West Haven. The median household income is $49,993, with the average per capita income $27,968.

If you plan to drive for your commute, the average gasoline prices are $3.45 to 3.50 per gallon.

Bristol is another of the cities near Hartford with a lower cost of living, but the income is a bit more generous here. The median home value in Bristol is $231,500, and 59.1 percent of Bristol’s residents are homeowners. Total average monthly bills are $1,793 in Bristol, and that includes mortgage payments.

The average household income is $60,208, and the average per capita income is $32,823. Ten percent of residents live in poverty.

Monthly rental costs average $1,178 in Bristol, but renters should still plan for the expensive monthly utilities averaging $238.43 per month.

The average commute in Bristol is 25 minutes, and it is about an hour to Hartford.

Meriden is a small city with an impressive amount of outdoor access, and while the average income is low, the cost of living is also below the national average. Single residents average $27,483 per year, but households earn $53,401.

The median home value is $220,400 in Meriden, and residents spend an average of $1,559 in monthly homeownership costs. Currently, 51.5 percent of Meriden residents own their homes, and the rest spend an average of $1,259 per month in rent.

Commutes are short in Meriden, only 23 minutes. Plan for gas to be about $3.45 per gallon.

Norwich is perhaps best known for the nearby Mohegan Sun casino and resort operated on the Mohegan tribal lands. Fortunately for Norwich, casinos create many jobs and bring people to the area. The average household income is $49,695 and the average per capita income is $28,429.

The median home value in Norwich is $199,800, and 43.2 percent of Norwich’s residents are homeowners. Total average monthly bills are $1,749 in Norwich, and that includes mortgage payments.

Monthly rental costs average $1,055 in Norwich.

The average commute is only 23 minutes, and if that is done by personal vehicle, plan for gas that averages $3.45 to 3.50 per gallon.

Naugatuck has fantastic access to nature via a state park, state forest, and 44-mile long greenway. Those looking for that type of outdoor living will be pleased with the low cost of living in Naugatuck. Its cost of living is just a hair over the national average at 102 on a cost of living index where 100 is the national average.

The median home value in Naugatuck is $249,300, and 64.5 percent of Naugatuck’s residents are homeowners. Total average monthly bills are $1,821 in Naugatuck, and that includes mortgage payments.

Average income in Naugatuck can provide a good lifestyle. The household average income is $58,641 and the per capita average income is $34,593.

Monthly rental costs average $1,302 in Naugatuck. If you drive rather than bike the greenway for your commute, plan for an average gas cost of $3.45 per gallon. The average commute for Naugatuck residents is 30 minutes.

Torrington is considered to be the least expensive city in Connecticut when all factors are considered. It is beloved for its New England charm, and that charm can be obtained for a very reasonable price.

The median home value in Torrington is $193,600, and 57.9% of Torrington’s residents are homeowners. Total average monthly bills are $1,126 in Torrington, and that includes mortgage payments.

Available homes range from older farmhouses on acreage to modern new builds. The average household income is $55,460 and the average per capita income is $30,982. Monthly rental costs average $1,058 in Torrington.

The average commute for Torrington residents is 26 minutes, and the average price of gas is $2.69 to $2.76 per gallon.

The cheapest place to live in Connecticut is Torrington, and the median home value there is $153,700. Apartment rentals, utility bills, mortgage payments, and monthly homeownership costs are also low in Torrington, just as they are in the other cities on this list.

Many of these cities feature costs of living at or below the national average. Several in the Hartford area do suffer from high poverty rates and low average incomes. However, if you can assure your own income stream, you can find great deals on homes, often with manageable commutes to larger population centers with employment opportunities.

Related Questions

What are the safest cities in Connecticut?

Some of the safest cities in Connecticut are Weston, Madison, Ridgefield, Newton, and Easton. Other safe cities are Granby, New Canaan, Monroe, and Redding. Weston and Madison had a stand-out zero violent crimes, which is pretty impressive.

What are the most dangerous cities in Connecticut?

The most dangerous cities in Connecticut are Hartford, New Haven, Waterbury, New Britain, and Plainville. Hartford’s overall crime rate is 81% above the national average, with a violent crime rate 180% over the national average. Other dangerous cities in Connecticut are Bloomfield, Derby, New London, East Windsor, and East Hartford.