Connecticut
For Americans thinking of retiring to Connecticut from another state, or comparing it with a move abroad. Prices in Connecticut run at 103.6 against a US average of 100, with housing at 117. We cover Connecticut's 9 counties on the map below, each with a page of its own, and no town in depth yet.
Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (SARPP, line codes 1-5), 2024-12-31
Connecticut is not compared with a town — compare two towns instead. Why?
Connecticut, a state of the United States, is not the same kind of thing as a town: it spans many counties and very different places. Putting a state-wide average beside one town's own figures produces a number that looks like an answer and describes nothing a person would experience — so the engine refuses that pairing rather than rendering it thinly. A town against another town, here or abroad, is like-for-like. Build a comparison →
Research in progress. Our quality assessment of the official sources for the United States is not finished yet. Every figure published here is sourced and dated.
Connecticut's 9 counties
Every county in Connecticut on its own figures, against every US county that has the same figure. Pick a county on the map or in the list.
- Lowest fifth of US counties
- Middle fifth
- Highest fifth (darker = a larger share 65+)
- No figure
- At least one hospital rated 4 or 5 stars by CMS
- None in the county
- No figure
- Bottom fifth of US counties
- Middle fifth
- Top fifth (darker = cheaper)
- No figure
- Bottom fifth of US counties
- Middle fifth
- Top fifth (darker = lower)
- No figure
- Bottom fifth of US counties
- Middle fifth
- Top fifth (darker = lower)
- No figure
- Bottom fifth of US counties
- Middle fifth
- Top fifth (darker = more)
- No figure
- Bottom fifth of US counties
- Middle fifth
- Top fifth (darker = lower)
- No figure
Outlines: US Census Bureau, cartographic boundary files (2024). A fifth is among every US county holding the figure, so a color means the same thing in every state.
All 9 counties, with their figures
-
Capitol Planning Region
994,115 residents, 199,909 aged 65 or older (20.1 %)
- Cost of living
- 102.7 Cheaper than 6 % of the other 3,142 US counties Its area's figure: every county in the area shares it. Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metropolitan area, US = 100
- Taxes on a retired couple
- USD $6,978 Lower than 3 % of the other 3,110 US counties
- Healthcare access
- 2 hospitals in the county rated 4 or 5 stars by CMS
- Safety
- No safety figure: CDC WONDER reports Connecticut's 2022 and later deaths by planning region, and the 2020–2024 window spans the change.
- Climate
- 5.0 months a year More than 39 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Natural-hazard risk
- USD $1.29 per USD $1,000 of buildings Lower than 53 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Medicare premiums
- Original + drug plan USD $7,624 a year for two No Advantage figure: CMS's plan-year 2027 files list Connecticut by its eight former counties, not its nine planning regions.
Largest places: Hartford, New Britain (Census, 1 July 2024).
Capitol Planning Region page → -
Greater Bridgeport Planning Region
337,697 residents, 58,027 aged 65 or older (17.2 %)
- Cost of living
- 106.9 Cheaper than 3 % of the other 3,142 US counties Its area's figure: every county in the area shares it. Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT metropolitan area, US = 100
- Taxes on a retired couple
- USD $7,077 Lower than 3 % of the other 3,110 US counties
- Healthcare access
- 2 hospitals in the county rated 4 or 5 stars by CMS
- Safety
- No safety figure: CDC WONDER reports Connecticut's 2022 and later deaths by planning region, and the 2020–2024 window spans the change.
- Climate
- 5.0 months a year More than 39 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Natural-hazard risk
- USD $1.55 per USD $1,000 of buildings Lower than 35 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Medicare premiums
- Original + drug plan USD $7,624 a year for two No Advantage figure: CMS's plan-year 2027 files list Connecticut by its eight former counties, not its nine planning regions.
Largest place: Bridgeport (Census, 1 July 2024).
Greater Bridgeport Planning Region page → -
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region
177,311 residents, 45,711 aged 65 or older (25.8 %)
- Cost of living
- 102.7 Cheaper than 6 % of the other 3,142 US counties Its area's figure: every county in the area shares it. Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metropolitan area, US = 100
- Taxes on a retired couple
- USD $5,860 Lower than 8 % of the other 3,110 US counties
- Healthcare access
- No hospital in the county rated 4 or 5 stars by CMS
- Safety
- No safety figure: CDC WONDER reports Connecticut's 2022 and later deaths by planning region, and the 2020–2024 window spans the change.
- Climate
- 5.0 months a year More than 39 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Natural-hazard risk
- USD $1.48 per USD $1,000 of buildings Lower than 39 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Medicare premiums
- Original + drug plan USD $7,624 a year for two No Advantage figure: CMS's plan-year 2027 files list Connecticut by its eight former counties, not its nine planning regions.
Largest places: Middletown, Fenwick (Census, 1 July 2024).
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region page → -
Naugatuck Valley Planning Region
463,349 residents, 97,947 aged 65 or older (21.1 %)
- Cost of living
- 99.8 Cheaper than 10 % of the other 3,142 US counties Waterbury-Shelton, CT metropolitan area, US = 100
- Taxes on a retired couple
- USD $6,591 Lower than 5 % of the other 3,110 US counties
- Healthcare access
- 1 hospital in the county rated 4 or 5 stars by CMS
- Safety
- No safety figure: CDC WONDER reports Connecticut's 2022 and later deaths by planning region, and the 2020–2024 window spans the change.
- Climate
- 5.0 months a year More than 39 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Natural-hazard risk
- USD $1.50 per USD $1,000 of buildings Lower than 39 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Medicare premiums
- Original + drug plan USD $7,624 a year for two No Advantage figure: CMS's plan-year 2027 files list Connecticut by its eight former counties, not its nine planning regions.
Largest places: Waterbury, Bristol, Shelton (Census, 1 July 2024).
Naugatuck Valley Planning Region page → -
Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region
98,096 residents, 21,477 aged 65 or older (21.9 %)
- Cost of living
- 97.9 Cheaper than 12 % of the other 3,142 US counties Its area's figure: every county in the area shares it. Connecticut nonmetropolitan portion, US = 100
- Taxes on a retired couple
- USD $4,978 Lower than 16 % of the other 3,110 US counties
- Healthcare access
- No hospital in the county rated 4 or 5 stars by CMS
- Safety
- No safety figure: CDC WONDER reports Connecticut's 2022 and later deaths by planning region, and the 2020–2024 window spans the change.
- Climate
- 5.0 months a year More than 39 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Natural-hazard risk
- USD $1.47 per USD $1,000 of buildings Lower than 40 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Medicare premiums
- Original + drug plan USD $7,624 a year for two No Advantage figure: CMS's plan-year 2027 files list Connecticut by its eight former counties, not its nine planning regions.
Largest place: Danielson (Census, 1 July 2024).
Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region page → -
Northwest Hills Planning Region
114,690 residents, 30,719 aged 65 or older (26.8 %)
- Cost of living
- 97.9 Cheaper than 12 % of the other 3,142 US counties Its area's figure: every county in the area shares it. Connecticut nonmetropolitan portion, US = 100
- Taxes on a retired couple
- USD $5,833 Lower than 8 % of the other 3,110 US counties
- Healthcare access
- 1 hospital in the county rated 4 or 5 stars by CMS
- Safety
- No safety figure: CDC WONDER reports Connecticut's 2022 and later deaths by planning region, and the 2020–2024 window spans the change.
- Climate
- 5.0 months a year More than 39 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Natural-hazard risk
- USD $1.60 per USD $1,000 of buildings Lower than 32 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Medicare premiums
- Original + drug plan USD $7,624 a year for two No Advantage figure: CMS's plan-year 2027 files list Connecticut by its eight former counties, not its nine planning regions.
Largest places: Torrington, Litchfield, Bantam (Census, 1 July 2024).
Northwest Hills Planning Region page → -
South Central Connecticut Planning Region
578,741 residents, 118,655 aged 65 or older (20.5 %)
- Cost of living
- 104.6 Cheaper than 4 % of the other 3,142 US counties New Haven, CT metropolitan area, US = 100
- Taxes on a retired couple
- USD $6,700 Lower than 4 % of the other 3,110 US counties
- Healthcare access
- 2 hospitals in the county rated 4 or 5 stars by CMS
- Safety
- No safety figure: CDC WONDER reports Connecticut's 2022 and later deaths by planning region, and the 2020–2024 window spans the change.
- Climate
- 4.0 months a year More than 7 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Natural-hazard risk
- USD $1.38 per USD $1,000 of buildings Lower than 46 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Medicare premiums
- Original + drug plan USD $7,624 a year for two No Advantage figure: CMS's plan-year 2027 files list Connecticut by its eight former counties, not its nine planning regions.
Largest places: New Haven, Meriden, West Haven (Census, 1 July 2024).
South Central Connecticut Planning Region page → -
Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region
284,015 residents, 61,376 aged 65 or older (21.6 %)
- Cost of living
- 100.4 Cheaper than 8 % of the other 3,142 US counties Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT metropolitan area, US = 100
- Taxes on a retired couple
- USD $5,658 Lower than 9 % of the other 3,110 US counties
- Healthcare access
- 1 hospital in the county rated 4 or 5 stars by CMS
- Safety
- No safety figure: CDC WONDER reports Connecticut's 2022 and later deaths by planning region, and the 2020–2024 window spans the change.
- Climate
- 5.0 months a year More than 39 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Natural-hazard risk
- USD $1.31 per USD $1,000 of buildings Lower than 51 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Medicare premiums
- Original + drug plan USD $7,624 a year for two No Advantage figure: CMS's plan-year 2027 files list Connecticut by its eight former counties, not its nine planning regions.
Largest places: Norwich, New London, Groton (Census, 1 July 2024).
Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region page → -
Western Connecticut Planning Region
640,482 residents, 118,024 aged 65 or older (18.4 %)
- Cost of living
- 106.9 Cheaper than 3 % of the other 3,142 US counties Its area's figure: every county in the area shares it. Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT metropolitan area, US = 100
- Taxes on a retired couple
- USD $4,983 Lower than 16 % of the other 3,110 US counties
- Healthcare access
- 3 hospitals in the county rated 4 or 5 stars by CMS
- Safety
- No safety figure: CDC WONDER reports Connecticut's 2022 and later deaths by planning region, and the 2020–2024 window spans the change.
- Climate
- 5.0 months a year More than 39 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Natural-hazard risk
- USD $1.48 per USD $1,000 of buildings Lower than 39 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Medicare premiums
- Original + drug plan USD $7,624 a year for two No Advantage figure: CMS's plan-year 2027 files list Connecticut by its eight former counties, not its nine planning regions.
Largest places: Stamford, Norwalk, Danbury (Census, 1 July 2024).
Western Connecticut Planning Region page →
Sources: US Census Bureau, county population estimates by age, 1 July 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, all items, of each county's metropolitan area or its state's nonmetropolitan portion; The state's published 2025 income-tax rules, the county's own local income tax where one is levied, and the county's Census ACS property-tax ratio, applied to the example household; CMS, Hospital General Information (Care Compare), hospital overall star rating, release of 13 Aug 2026; CHELSA V2.1 monthly maximum temperature, 1981-2010 (~1 km), averaged over the county, Karger et al.; FEMA, National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), county expected annual loss to buildings (EAL_VALB); CMS, Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape, plan year 2027; CMS, 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles (fact sheet, 14 Nov 2025).
Where Connecticut stands, on the six criteria
Connecticut's six figures are the ones that set its place on the state ranking, where it sits in Tier 8 of 16. Each is measured for the whole of Connecticut, not for any single place within it.
| Criterion | Connecticut |
|---|---|
| Cost of living BEA price level, all items (US = 100); lower is better |
103.6 Cheaper than 18% of the other 50 · housing 117.0 · goods 97.3 · utilities 146.5 · other services 102.7
BEA Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (SARPP, line codes 1-5) · figure for 2024 · checked 2026-08-28
|
| Taxes on a retired couple state and local tax on the example retired couple, USD a year; lower is better |
USD $6,337 (90% margin USD $6,300–$6,374) Lower than 4% of the other 50
Each state's published 2025 income-tax rules and the Census ACS property-tax ratio, applied to the example household · figure for 2025
|
| Healthcare access share of residents 65+ living in a county with a 4- or 5-star CMS hospital; higher is better |
91 % of residents 65+ Higher than 96% of the other 50
CMS, Hospital General Information (Care Compare), hospital overall star rating, release of 13 Aug 2026, weighted by each county's population 65+ (US Census Bureau, 1 July 2025) · figure for 2026 · checked 2026-10-27
|
| Safety homicides per 100,000 a year, 2020–2024, by state of residence; lower is better |
4.0 per 100,000 a year (95% interval 3.7–4.3) Lower than 72% of the other 50
CDC WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death 2018-2024 (Single Race, final), by state of residence · figure for 2024 · checked 2026-10-27
|
| Climate months a year whose mean daily high is 18–29 °C (64–84 °F), 1981–2010; more is better |
4.8 months a year More than 62% of the other 50
CHELSA V2.1 monthly maximum temperature, 1981-2010 (~1 km), averaged over the county, Karger et al., weighted by each county's population 65+ (US Census Bureau, 1 July 2025) · figure for 2010 · checked 2026-10-27
|
| Natural-hazard risk expected yearly loss to buildings from natural hazards, per USD $1,000 of buildings; lower is better |
USD $1.41 per USD $1,000 of buildings Lower than 42% of the other 50
FEMA, National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), state expected annual loss to buildings (EAL_VALB) · figure for 2025 · checked 2026-10-27
|
Medicare in Connecticut
For the published example couple, both 67 and married: what Medicare premiums cost a year for two in Connecticut, and the most a bad year can cost. What care itself costs depends on a person's health, so it is not estimated here.
Medicare Advantage, with drug coverage
No Advantage figure: CMS's plan-year 2027 files list Connecticut by its eight former counties, not its nine planning regions.
Original Medicare, with a drug plan
USD $7,624 a year for two in premiums (from USD $5,189)
Medigap: no federal price list — not in this total.
No yearly maximum on Original Medicare alone.
Part B for two, plus the middle of the 10 standalone drug plans offered in the state.
The middle of Connecticut's 9 counties, weighted by residents 65 or older (US Census Bureau, 1 July 2025).
The 2027 Part B premium is not yet published (CMS usually publishes it in November); 2026's is used.
Source: CMS, Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape, plan year 2027; CMS, 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles (fact sheet, 14 Nov 2025).
Connecticut requires Medigap insurers to charge community rates and bars denying coverage because of age, gender, claims history or medical condition at any time of year, though a pre-existing condition may be excluded for the first six months. Connecticut's rule
Free, official Medicare counseling in Connecticut: Connecticut’s Program for Health Insurance Assistance, Outreach, Information and Referral, Counseling, Eligibility Screening (CHOICES), 1-800-994-9422 (the State Health Insurance Assistance Program).
Retiring to Connecticut: pros and cons, by the figures
Retiring to Connecticut, judged on the six figures above: a pro is a figure in the top fifth of the states, a con one in the bottom fifth. Figures in between get no verdict.
Pros
- Healthcare access: higher than 96% of the other 50 (91 % of residents 65+). CMS, Hospital General Information (Care Compare), hospital overall star rating, release of 13 Aug 2026, weighted by each county's population 65+ (US Census Bureau, 1 July 2025)
Cons
- Cost of living: dearer than 82% of the other 50 (103.6). BEA Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (SARPP, line codes 1-5)
- Taxes on a retired couple: higher than 96% of the other 50 (USD $6,337). Each state's published 2025 income-tax rules and the Census ACS property-tax ratio, applied to the example household
Also shown, not scored
Connecticut's other state-wide figures: shown for context, not part of its tier. Measured for the whole of Connecticut — not for any single place within it.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
|
Population
Total resident population, US Census Bureau estimate for 1 July 2025.
How this is measuredTotal resident population, Census Bureau estimate as of 1 July 2025, as reported in SSA's Table 1. Bigger is not better — this axis exists for context, never for ranking. |
3,688,496 people |
|
Population 65 plus
Residents aged 65 or older, US Census Bureau estimate for 1 July 2025.
How this is measuredResident population aged 65 or older, Census Bureau estimate as of 1 July 2025, as reported in SSA's Table 1. |
751,845 people |
|
Social security beneficiary share
Everyone receiving Social Security — retired, disabled, survivors and dependants — as a share of the population, 2025.
How this is measuredAll OASDI beneficiaries — retired workers, disabled workers, survivors and dependants — as a percentage of the total resident population. SSA Table 1 (2025), population as of 1 July 2025. Not the same measure as the county-level retired-worker share. |
20.8 percent |
Source for every figure: SSA Table 1 (2025) · Census population as of 1 July 2025 · figure for 2025 · checked 2026-08-28 Official source
Taxes on a retired couple in Connecticut
We apply Connecticut's published rules for tax year 2025 to one example household and show the sum, line by line. These are rules already in force for 2025, not a projection.
The example household
| Filing status | married filing jointly, both aged 67 |
|---|---|
| Social Security | USD $45,000 a year, combined |
| Private pension | USD $25,000 a year |
| IRA or 401(k) withdrawal | USD $20,000 a year |
| Home, for property tax | USD $350,000 |
An illustrative household, the same for every state so states can be compared. Each spouse holds half of each income. Your own figures will differ.
Connecticut's rules applied
Federal income tax is left out: it is the same in every state, so it cannot separate them. Sales tax is left out too: it depends on what a household buys, and no state publishes an average of its local rates. The rate is listed below.
The rules behind the sum
- Top income-tax rate: 6.99 % Connecticut Department of Revenue Services, 2025 Form CT-1040 Instructions, Table B · checked Oct 26, 2026
- Social Security fully exempt (federal AGI under USD $100,000): 100 % of it Connecticut DRS, 2025 Form CT-1040 Instructions, Line 41 · checked Oct 26, 2026
- Pension and annuity subtraction (Line 48b): 100 % of it Connecticut DRS, 2025 Form CT-1040 Instructions, Line 48b · checked Oct 26, 2026
- 75 % of IRA distributions (Line 48b): 75 % of it Connecticut DRS, 2025 Form CT-1040 Instructions, Line 48b · checked Oct 26, 2026
- Personal exemption, married filing jointly (Table A): USD $24,000 Connecticut DRS, 2025 Form CT-1040 Instructions, Table A - Personal Exemptions · checked Oct 26, 2026
- State sales tax 6.35 %; no local sales taxes: 6.35 % Connecticut DRS: Sales and Use Tax Information · checked Oct 26, 2026
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