Connecticut
CT • Northeast
Quality of Life Score
52.09
State Comparison
Connecticut vs New Hampshire
Connecticut is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Connecticut, New Hampshire has higher incomes, New Hampshire has lower state income tax, and New Hampshire gets more sunshine.
Connecticut
14
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
New Hampshire
17
/ 31
metrics won
CT wins Housing
NH wins Quality of Life
CT wins Climate
NH wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Connecticut
vs
New Hampshire
winner
New Hampshire scores higher on quality of life — 6.12 points difference.
Overview
Key differences overview
These cards keep the comparison factual first, so the biggest tradeoffs in affordability, housing, taxes, politics, climate, and day-to-day living are easy to scan.
Overall Affordability
Connecticut is 4.0 points cheaper overall
Connecticut has the lower cost-of-living index. Connecticut is at 113.1, while New Hampshire is at 117.1.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $0.21 further in Connecticut
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $99.03 of local buying power in Connecticut, versus $98.82 in New Hampshire.
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Income
New Hampshire income is 0.7% higher
New Hampshire has the higher median household income at $90,845, compared with $90,213 in Connecticut.
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Jobs
Connecticut minimum wage is $9.10 higher
Connecticut has the higher statewide minimum wage at $16.35/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in New Hampshire.
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Housing
New Hampshire homes cost about 1.2x more
Connecticut has the lower median home value at $326,200, versus $377,600 in New Hampshire.
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Taxes
New Hampshire has lower state income tax
New Hampshire has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 0.00%, compared with 6.99% in Connecticut.
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Connecticut
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 7.0%)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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New Hampshire
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (none)
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- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Cost-of-Living Equivalent
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* "After state tax" uses the top marginal rate — actual effective rate is lower for most incomes. Real buying power uses BEA Regional Price Parity (106.9 for Connecticut, 103.4 for New Hampshire). COL equivalent uses the MERIC/C2ER composite index.
Tradeoffs
Pros and cons for each state
A fast scan of the biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.
Connecticut
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Connecticut
- Connecticut has a lower overall cost of living.
- Connecticut has a lower housing cost index.
- Connecticut has lower median home values.
- Connecticut job growth trend is stronger.
- Connecticut health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Connecticut education proxy is higher.
Cons
- Connecticut shows lower median income.
- Connecticut has higher property tax rates on average.
- Connecticut has a higher violent crime rate.
- Connecticut health coverage access proxy is weaker.
- Connecticut has fewer sunny days.
New Hampshire
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: New Hampshire
- New Hampshire shows higher median income.
- New Hampshire has lower property tax rates on average.
- New Hampshire has a lower violent crime rate.
- New Hampshire health coverage access proxy is stronger.
- New Hampshire has more sunny days.
Cons
- New Hampshire has a higher overall cost of living.
- New Hampshire has a higher housing cost index.
- New Hampshire has higher median home values.
- New Hampshire job growth trend is weaker.
- New Hampshire health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- New Hampshire education proxy is lower.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
CT
|
NH
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Hartford | Concord |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Solid Blue |
|
Population
|
3,605,944
|
1,377,529
|
|
Median Income
|
$90,213
|
$90,845
|
|
Cost of Living
|
113.1
|
117.1
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$326,200
|
$377,600
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.81%
|
1.66%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
6.99%
|
None (0%)
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$16.35/hr
|
$7.25/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.082/gal
|
$3.925/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
28.30 c/kWh
|
26.32 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
52.09
|
58.21
|
|
Average Temperature
|
49.0°F
|
43.8°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
82 days
|
90 days
|
|
Land Area
|
5,543 sq mi
|
9,349 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
650.5 per sq mi
|
147.3 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
January 9, 1788 (#5)
|
June 21, 1788 (#9)
|
Intent-Oriented
Which state fits your priorities better?
Use these cards as decision shortcuts for common goals like saving money, buying a home, finding better weather, or optimizing for work and family life.
6
of
18
shown
Saving Money
Connecticut is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 113.1 vs 117.1 in New Hampshire. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
New Hampshire is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.925/gal in New Hampshire vs $4.082/gal in Connecticut. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
Connecticut has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $16.35/hr in Connecticut vs $7.25/hr in New Hampshire. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
New Hampshire has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 26.32 c/kWh in New Hampshire vs 28.30 c/kWh in Connecticut. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
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Buying a Home
Connecticut is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 3.62x in Connecticut vs 4.16x in New Hampshire. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
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Renting
Connecticut is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 18.9% in Connecticut vs 19.2% in New Hampshire. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
See full dataExplore by Category
Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
Population
Connecticut has a larger population than New Hampshire by 2,228,415 people.
Population Density
Connecticut is more densely populated than New Hampshire.
Bachelor's Degree
Connecticut has a higher college-educated share than New Hampshire.
Advanced Degree
Connecticut has a higher advanced-degree share than New Hampshire.
People Also Ask
Connecticut vs New Hampshire - Common Questions
Q Is Connecticut cheaper to live in than New Hampshire?
Connecticut has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Connecticut scores 113.1 versus 117.1 for New Hampshire - a gap of 4.0 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Connecticut or New Hampshire?
$100 goes further in Connecticut. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $99.03 in Connecticut, compared with $98.82 in New Hampshire.
Q Which state is bigger - Connecticut or New Hampshire?
New Hampshire is larger, covering 9,349 sq mi compared with 5,543 sq mi for Connecticut - roughly 1.7x the size.
Q Does Connecticut or New Hampshire have more people?
Connecticut has the larger population at 3,605,944, compared with 1,377,529 in New Hampshire.
Q Which state has higher household income - Connecticut or New Hampshire?
New Hampshire has the higher median household income at $90,845, versus $90,213 in Connecticut.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Connecticut or New Hampshire?
New Hampshire has no state income tax, while Connecticut charges up to 6.99%.
Q Is housing cheaper in Connecticut or New Hampshire?
Homes are cheaper in Connecticut, where the median home value is $326,200, versus $377,600 in New Hampshire.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Connecticut or New Hampshire?
Connecticut is more densely populated at 650.5 per sq mi people per sq mi. New Hampshire is more spread out at 147.3 per sq mi people per sq mi.
Related Comparisons
Methodology
All figures are sourced from U.S. government datasets and updated annually. Page last updated: April 2026.
Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files and statehood dates from the National Archives. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker. See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.