Best Counties in Connecticut — 2026 Rankings
9 of 9 counties scored across 12 dimensions
9
9 scored
38/100
composite score
28.2—53.5
lowest to highest
State Overview
Understanding County Scores in Connecticut
Connecticut Trails National Average Despite High Quality of Life
Connecticut earns a composite score of 38.3, placing it well below the national median of 50.0. This lower-than-average ranking stems from extreme affordability pressures that offset the state's exceptional performance in social metrics.
A Powerhouse for Earning and Health
The state excels in human capital with an elite income score of 91.9 and a robust health score of 83.9. These figures indicate that residents enjoy some of the highest earning potential and medical outcomes in the country.
Heavy Financial Burdens and Climate Risks
Connecticut struggles with a tax score of 5.8 and an affordability score of 7.2, reflecting one of the highest cost-of-living burdens in the nation. Furthermore, a low risk score of 12.4 suggests the state faces significant environmental and climate-related vulnerabilities.
Planning Regions Offering the Best Balance
The Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region leads the state with a score of 53.5, the only area to exceed the national median. Northwest Hills and the Lower Connecticut River Valley follow, both maintaining elite income scores above 92.0 despite the state's general affordability challenges.
A Premium State for High-Income Professionals
Connecticut serves as a high-cost, high-reward environment that best suits established families and professionals who prioritize healthcare and wealth over low taxes. While the 38.3 composite score reflects a steep price of entry, the state's social infrastructure remains among the best in the nation.
All County Rankings in Connecticut
Search, sort, and filter all 9 ranked counties
Showing 1–9 of 9 counties
| Rank | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 53.5 | 11.1 | 12.3 | 90.6 | 92 | 89.8 | N/A | 37.3 | N/A | 62.4 | 74.3 | ||
| 2 | Northwest Hills Planning Region | 48.8 | 5 | 11.4 | 92.4 | 82.6 | 89.8 | N/A | 20.4 | N/A | 52.1 | 71.3 | ||
| 3 | Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | 42.2 | 5.8 | 6.4 | 95.6 | 51.8 | 97.6 | N/A | 16.2 | N/A | 66.8 | 75.8 | ||
| 4 | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 41.6 | 6.1 | 8.8 | 87.9 | 61.9 | 81.5 | N/A | 11.4 | N/A | 65.1 | 67 | ||
| 5 | Western Connecticut Planning Region | 38.3 | 14 | 0.7 | 98.9 | 46.6 | 86.1 | N/A | 3.7 | N/A | 60.8 | 67.3 | ||
| 6 | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 32.9 | 2.9 | 8.6 | 89.6 | 31.8 | 79 | N/A | 6.8 | N/A | 60.8 | 72.4 | ||
| 7 | Capitol Planning Region | 31 | 2.2 | 7.2 | 92.6 | 24 | 83.8 | N/A | 2.6 | N/A | 50.5 | 66.4 | ||
| 8 | Greater Bridgeport Planning Region | 28.4 | 2.1 | 4.3 | 90.2 | 29.4 | 64.3 | N/A | 8.2 | N/A | 59.7 | 69.4 | ||
| 9 | South Central Connecticut Planning Region | 28.2 | 3 | 5.3 | 89.5 | 12.4 | 83.3 | N/A | 4.9 | N/A | 66.8 | 75.8 |
Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region
Northwest Hills Planning Region
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region
Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region
Western Connecticut Planning Region
Naugatuck Valley Planning Region
Capitol Planning Region
Greater Bridgeport Planning Region
South Central Connecticut Planning Region
Frequently Asked Questions about Counties in Connecticut
Common questions about county rankings and scores in Connecticut.
What is the best county in Connecticut?
Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region is the top-ranked county in Connecticut with a CountyScore of 53.5/100. It leads the state across the available scoring dimensions, which include Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, Water Quality, Weather & Climate, Soil Quality, Lawn Care, Farmers Markets.
How many counties are ranked in Connecticut?
Connecticut has 9 counties in total. Of those, 9 have been ranked with a composite score based on available data dimensions. The remaining 0 counties do not yet have enough data for a full score.
What factors determine a county's score?
Each county is scored 0–100 across up to eight data dimensions: Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, and Water Quality. The composite score is a weighted average of whichever dimensions have data. Currently available dimensions are: Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, Water Quality, Weather & Climate, Soil Quality, Lawn Care, Farmers Markets. Higher scores are always better — a score of 100 represents the best possible performance for that dimension.
What is the average county score in Connecticut?
The average composite CountyScore across all ranked counties in Connecticut is 38/100. The national average is 50/100, so Connecticut counties score 12 points below the national average.
How does Connecticut compare to other states?
Connecticut's average county score of 38/100 is 12 points below the national average of 50/100. You can compare Connecticut counties to counties in any other state using the county detail pages or the CountyScore compare tool.
Explore County Data by Category
Dive deeper into specific dimensions for counties in Connecticut.
Best counties in other states
Data: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, 2019–2023 ACS — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.