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Cost & Benefits

Most affordable towns in Connecticut, 2026

Cheshire Village is the most affordable ranked town in Connecticut. Rent, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity are 22.5% each. Gasoline is 10%. A lower score is more affordable.

Summary

63
Towns ranked in Connecticut.
Cheshire Village
Number 1 in Connecticut. Rent is 11.4% of income. National rank 3359.
20.6%
Median rent share among ranked towns in Connecticut.
0
Ranked Connecticut towns in the national top 100.
New Canaan
Least affordable ranked town in Connecticut. Rent is 28.0% of income. National rank 6011.

Gasoline

$4.433

per gallon. EIA does not publish a Connecticut price. This is the New England (PADD 1A) price for the week of October 12, 2026. At 12,000 miles a year and 25 mpg, that is $2,127.84 a year for every ranked town in Connecticut.

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Cost & Benefits. "2026 Most Affordable Towns Index: Connecticut." October 16, 2026. https://costandbenefits.com/reports/most-affordable-towns-2026/connecticut

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Benefits and taxes in Connecticut

Top 25

  1. #1 in Connecticut · National #3359

    Cheshire Village

    Rent share 11.4% · Price level 99.8 · Score 0.466

    Median rent is $1,118 a month and median income is $117,218, so rent is 11.4% of income, under the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The Waterbury-Shelton, CT metro price level is 99.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  2. #2 in Connecticut · National #3681

    Wethersfield

    Rent share 13.0% · Price level 102.7 · Score 0.492

    Median rent is $1,370 a month and median income is $126,806, so rent is 13.0% of income, under the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metro price level is 102.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  3. #3 in Connecticut · National #3739

    Naugatuck

    Rent share 17.1% · Price level 99.8 · Score 0.497

    Median rent is $1,369 a month and median income is $96,324, so rent is 17.1% of income, under the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The Waterbury-Shelton, CT metro price level is 99.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  4. #4 in Connecticut · National #3844

    Portland

    Rent share 15.1% · Price level 102.7 · Score 0.508

    Median rent is $1,122 a month and median income is $89,401, so rent is 15.1% of income, under the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metro price level is 102.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  5. #5 in Connecticut · National #3850

    Kensington

    Rent share 14.8% · Price level 102.7 · Score 0.508

    Median rent is $1,351 a month and median income is $109,447, so rent is 14.8% of income, under the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metro price level is 102.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  6. #6 in Connecticut · National #3940

    Oakville

    Rent share 17.8% · Price level 99.8 · Score 0.514

    Median rent is $1,414 a month and median income is $95,515, so rent is 17.8% of income, under the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The Waterbury-Shelton, CT metro price level is 99.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  7. #7 in Connecticut · National #4103

    Pawcatuck

    Rent share 17.3% · Price level 100.4 · Score 0.528

    Median rent is $1,155 a month and median income is $80,114, so rent is 17.3% of income, under the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT metro price level is 100.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  8. #8 in Connecticut · National #4148

    West Hartford

    Rent share 16.2% · Price level 102.7 · Score 0.532

    Median rent is $1,756 a month and median income is $129,890, so rent is 16.2% of income, under the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metro price level is 102.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  9. #9 in Connecticut · National #4205

    Long Hill

    Rent share 13.1% · Price level 106.9 · Score 0.538

    Median rent is $1,952 a month and median income is $178,456, so rent is 13.1% of income, under the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT metro price level is 106.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is regional price level.

  10. #10 in Connecticut · National #4261

    North Haven

    Rent share 15.6% · Price level 104.6 · Score 0.543

    Median rent is $1,720 a month and median income is $132,689, so rent is 15.6% of income, under the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The New Haven, CT metro price level is 104.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  11. #11 in Connecticut · National #4305

    Sandy Hook

    Rent share 13.9% · Price level 106.9 · Score 0.547

    Median rent is $1,866 a month and median income is $160,814, so rent is 13.9% of income, under the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT metro price level is 106.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is regional price level.

  12. #12 in Connecticut · National #4339

    Newington

    Rent share 17.8% · Price level 102.7 · Score 0.550

    Median rent is $1,524 a month and median income is $102,884, so rent is 17.8% of income, under the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metro price level is 102.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  13. #13 in Connecticut · National #4373

    Groton

    Rent share 18.8% · Price level 100.4 · Score 0.552

    Median rent is $1,250 a month and median income is $79,577, so rent is 18.8% of income, under the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT metro price level is 100.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  14. #14 in Connecticut · National #4374

    Northford

    Rent share 16.1% · Price level 104.6 · Score 0.552

    Median rent is $1,408 a month and median income is $105,174, so rent is 16.1% of income, under the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The New Haven, CT metro price level is 104.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  15. #15 in Connecticut · National #4441

    Southwood Acres

    Rent share 18.8% · Price level 102.7 · Score 0.558

    Median rent is $1,728 a month and median income is $110,286, so rent is 18.8% of income, under the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metro price level is 102.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  16. #16 in Connecticut · National #4450

    Shelton

    Rent share 19.3% · Price level 99.8 · Score 0.558

    Median rent is $1,741 a month and median income is $108,185, so rent is 19.3% of income, under the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The Waterbury-Shelton, CT metro price level is 99.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  17. #17 in Connecticut · National #4510

    Bristol

    Rent share 20.3% · Price level 99.8 · Score 0.562

    Median rent is $1,338 a month and median income is $79,076, so rent is 20.3% of income, under the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The Waterbury-Shelton, CT metro price level is 99.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  18. #18 in Connecticut · National #4596

    Ansonia

    Rent share 20.6% · Price level 99.8 · Score 0.568

    Median rent is $1,476 a month and median income is $85,877, so rent is 20.6% of income, even with the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The Waterbury-Shelton, CT metro price level is 99.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  19. #19 in Connecticut · National #4609

    Terryville

    Rent share 20.9% · Price level 99.8 · Score 0.568

    Median rent is $1,271 a month and median income is $72,813, so rent is 20.9% of income, over the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The Waterbury-Shelton, CT metro price level is 99.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  20. #20 in Connecticut · National #4614

    Staples

    Rent share 14.5% · Price level 106.9 · Score 0.569

    Median rent is $2,328 a month and median income is $192,656, so rent is 14.5% of income, under the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT metro price level is 106.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is regional price level.

  21. #21 in Connecticut · National #4678

    Ridgefield

    Rent share 15.4% · Price level 106.9 · Score 0.573

    Median rent is $1,904 a month and median income is $148,279, so rent is 15.4% of income, under the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT metro price level is 106.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is regional price level.

  22. #22 in Connecticut · National #4697

    Wallingford Center

    Rent share 17.8% · Price level 104.6 · Score 0.575

    Median rent is $1,336 a month and median income is $89,959, so rent is 17.8% of income, under the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The New Haven, CT metro price level is 104.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  23. #23 in Connecticut · National #4734

    Glastonbury Center

    Rent share 19.0% · Price level 102.7 · Score 0.578

    Median rent is $1,697 a month and median income is $107,357, so rent is 19.0% of income, under the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metro price level is 102.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  24. #24 in Connecticut · National #4835

    Derby

    Rent share 21.9% · Price level 99.8 · Score 0.587

    Median rent is $1,452 a month and median income is $79,500, so rent is 21.9% of income, over the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The Waterbury-Shelton, CT metro price level is 99.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  25. #25 in Connecticut · National #4916

    Torrington

    Rent share 19.8% · Price level 103.6 · Score 0.593

    Median rent is $1,169 a month and median income is $70,856, so rent is 19.8% of income, under the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The Connecticut state price level is 103.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

Least affordable 10

  1. #63 in Connecticut · National #6011

    New Canaan

    Rent share 28.0% · Price level 106.9 · Score 0.751

    Median rent is $3,425 a month and median income is $146,700, so rent is 28.0% of income, over the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT metro price level is 106.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  2. #62 in Connecticut · National #5876

    Bridgeport

    Rent share 29.6% · Price level 106.9 · Score 0.729

    Median rent is $1,450 a month and median income is $58,685, so rent is 29.6% of income, over the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT metro price level is 106.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  3. #61 in Connecticut · National #5848

    Danbury

    Rent share 26.6% · Price level 106.9 · Score 0.725

    Median rent is $1,846 a month and median income is $83,393, so rent is 26.6% of income, over the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT metro price level is 106.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  4. #60 in Connecticut · National #5811

    New Haven

    Rent share 31.4% · Price level 104.6 · Score 0.720

    Median rent is $1,488 a month and median income is $56,851, so rent is 31.4% of income, over the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The New Haven, CT metro price level is 104.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  5. #59 in Connecticut · National #5763

    Stamford

    Rent share 24.5% · Price level 106.9 · Score 0.712

    Median rent is $2,276 a month and median income is $111,586, so rent is 24.5% of income, over the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT metro price level is 106.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  6. #58 in Connecticut · National #5717

    Storrs

    Rent share 53.2% · Price level 102.7 · Score 0.703

    Median rent is $1,678 a month and median income is $37,839, so rent is 53.2% of income, over the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metro price level is 102.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  7. #57 in Connecticut · National #5685

    Hartford

    Rent share 32.8% · Price level 102.7 · Score 0.697

    Median rent is $1,269 a month and median income is $46,411, so rent is 32.8% of income, over the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metro price level is 102.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  8. #56 in Connecticut · National #5657

    Norwalk

    Rent share 23.1% · Price level 106.9 · Score 0.693

    Median rent is $2,073 a month and median income is $107,616, so rent is 23.1% of income, over the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT metro price level is 106.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is regional price level.

  9. #55 in Connecticut · National #5581

    Trumbull Center

    Rent share 22.4% · Price level 106.9 · Score 0.681

    Median rent is $2,307 a month and median income is $123,708, so rent is 22.4% of income, over the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT metro price level is 106.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is regional price level.

  10. #54 in Connecticut · National #5529

    Branford Center

    Rent share 23.6% · Price level 104.6 · Score 0.674

    Median rent is $1,459 a month and median income is $74,150, so rent is 23.6% of income, over the 20.6% median for ranked towns in Connecticut. The New Haven, CT metro price level is 104.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 24.16 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.433 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

The formula

A lower score is more affordable. Rent share, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity each count 22.5%. Gasoline counts 10%. Those weights are our choice. Gasoline stays at 10% because the miles figure is one national standard, not a measured town commute. This is not a government standard.

A percentile is the share of ranked towns with a strictly lower number, divided by the number of ranked towns minus one. The lowest number scores 0. Tied numbers share a percentile.

  1. Rent share = (median monthly rent × 12) / median household income. Both figures are the Census 2020–2024 medians for that place.
  2. RPP-adjusted cost is the BEA 2024 all-items regional price parity. A basket priced at 100 for the U.S. average costs this many dollars in the town's area. We use the metro index when the county is in a metro BEA publishes. Otherwise we use the state index and say so. This index includes housing, so housing also shows up in the rent share.
  3. Tax burden is the average of three percentiles. Income-tax share is state income tax plus the stored 2023 local AGI add-on, divided by the town's median household income, on a joint return. Property share is the state's median effective property-tax rate times the town's median home value, divided by income. Sales rate is the combined state and average local sales-tax rate. We do not turn the sales rate into dollars, because that would require a shopping basket we do not have.
  4. Electricity is the state residential price in cents per kilowatt-hour. Every town in a state shares it. We do not guess how many kilowatt-hours a home uses.
  5. Gasoline is the EIA retail price for all grades and all formulations, in dollars per gallon. Where EIA publishes a state series, we use that state. Every other state uses the PADD region EIA assigns to it. Census does not publish commuting miles for these towns, so annual gas spend is 12,000 miles a year divided by 25 miles per gallon, times the price. That is 480 gallons, the same for every town. Those miles are our standard, not an ACS figure and not a government mileage rule. Because the gallons do not change, the gas percentile is the percentile of the price.

    Weekly prices are for the week of October 12, 2026, from the EIA workbook released October 14, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/xls/pswrgvwall.xls. Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, and Oregon use West Coast (PADD 5) Except California. That series is not in the weekly workbook, so those five use the monthly price dated September 15, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_gnd_a_epm0_pte_dpgal_m.htm.

    • State series, week of October 12, 2026: California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington.
    • Central Atlantic (PADD 1B), week of October 12, 2026: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.
    • Gulf Coast (PADD 3), week of October 12, 2026: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico.
    • Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C), week of October 12, 2026: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia.
    • Midwest (PADD 2), week of October 12, 2026: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin.
    • New England (PADD 1A), week of October 12, 2026: Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont.
    • Rocky Mountain (PADD 4), week of October 12, 2026: Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming.
    • West Coast (PADD 5) Except California, September 15, 2026: Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon.

Score = 0.225 × rent percentile + 0.225 × price-level percentile + 0.225 × tax score + 0.225 × electricity percentile + 0.10 × gasoline percentile. Rank 1 is the lowest score. If scores tie, the lower rent share wins, then the lower price level, then the place slug in A-to-Z order.

Questions

What is the most affordable town in Connecticut in this index?

Cheshire Village is number 1 of 63 ranked towns in Connecticut. Median rent is 11.4% of median income. Its national rank is 3359.

How many towns in Connecticut were ranked?

63 towns in Connecticut have at least 5,000 people and published Census rent, income, and home value. Places missing one of those figures are left out.

Does this ranking approve benefits in Connecticut?

No. Cost & Benefits does not approve or deny benefits. The score is a cost comparison only.