Quality of Life Score
52.09
State Comparison
Connecticut vs New Jersey
Connecticut is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Connecticut, New Jersey has higher incomes, Connecticut has lower state income tax, and New Jersey gets more sunshine.
Connecticut
17
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
New Jersey
14
/ 31
metrics won
CT wins Housing
CT wins Quality of Life
NJ wins Climate
NJ wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Connecticut
vs
New Jersey
winner
New Jersey scores higher on quality of life — 7.72 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 8.6 points cheaper overall
Connecticut has the lower cost-of-living index. Connecticut is at 113.1, while New Jersey is at 121.7.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $5.58 further in Connecticut
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $99.03 of local buying power in Connecticut, versus $93.45 in New Jersey.
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Income
New Jersey income is 7.7% higher
New Jersey has the higher median household income at $97,126, compared with $90,213 in Connecticut.
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Jobs
Connecticut has the higher minimum wage
Connecticut has the higher statewide minimum wage at $16.35/hr, compared with $15.49/hr in New Jersey.
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Housing
New Jersey homes cost about 1.2x more
Connecticut has the lower median home value at $326,200, versus $400,900 in New Jersey.
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Taxes
Connecticut has lower state income tax
Connecticut has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 6.99%, compared with 10.75% in New Jersey.
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Enter your gross income to see real purchasing power and the cost-of-living equivalent in both states.
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Connecticut
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 7.0%)
- —
- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
New Jersey
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 10.8%)
- —
- 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, 112.9 for New Jersey). 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 has lower property tax rates on average.
- Connecticut has a lower violent crime rate.
- Connecticut health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
Cons
- Connecticut shows lower median income.
- Connecticut job growth trend is weaker.
- Connecticut education proxy is lower.
- Connecticut has fewer sunny days.
New Jersey
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: New Jersey
- New Jersey shows higher median income.
- New Jersey job growth trend is stronger.
- New Jersey education proxy is higher.
- New Jersey has more sunny days.
Cons
- New Jersey has a higher overall cost of living.
- New Jersey has a higher housing cost index.
- New Jersey has higher median home values.
- New Jersey has higher property tax rates on average.
- New Jersey has a higher violent crime rate.
- New Jersey health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
CT
|
NJ
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Hartford | Trenton |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Solid Blue |
|
Population
|
3,605,944
|
9,288,994
|
|
Median Income
|
$90,213
|
$97,126
|
|
Cost of Living
|
113.1
|
121.7
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$326,200
|
$400,900
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.81%
|
2.11%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
6.99%
|
10.75%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$16.35/hr
|
$15.49/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.082/gal
|
$4.093/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
28.30 c/kWh
|
23.13 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
52.09
|
59.81
|
|
Average Temperature
|
49.0°F
|
52.7°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
82 days
|
94 days
|
|
Land Area
|
5,543 sq mi
|
8,723 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
650.5 per sq mi
|
1,064.9 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
January 9, 1788 (#5)
|
December 18, 1787 (#3)
|
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
16
shown
Saving Money
Connecticut is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 113.1 vs 121.7 in New Jersey. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
Connecticut is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $4.082/gal in Connecticut vs $4.093/gal in New Jersey. 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 $15.49/hr in New Jersey. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
New Jersey has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 23.13 c/kWh in New Jersey 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 4.13x in New Jersey. 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 19.5% in New Jersey. 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
New Jersey has a larger population than Connecticut by 5,683,050 people.
Population Density
New Jersey is more densely populated than Connecticut.
Bachelor's Degree
New Jersey has a higher college-educated share than Connecticut.
Advanced Degree
Connecticut has a higher advanced-degree share than New Jersey.
People Also Ask
Connecticut vs New Jersey - Common Questions
Q Is Connecticut cheaper to live in than New Jersey?
Connecticut has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Connecticut scores 113.1 versus 121.7 for New Jersey - a gap of 8.6 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Connecticut or New Jersey?
$100 goes further in Connecticut. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $99.03 in Connecticut, compared with $93.45 in New Jersey.
Q Which state is bigger - Connecticut or New Jersey?
New Jersey is larger, covering 8,723 sq mi compared with 5,543 sq mi for Connecticut - roughly 1.6x the size.
Q Does Connecticut or New Jersey have more people?
New Jersey has the larger population at 9,288,994, compared with 3,605,944 in Connecticut.
Q Which state has higher household income - Connecticut or New Jersey?
New Jersey has the higher median household income at $97,126, versus $90,213 in Connecticut.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Connecticut or New Jersey?
Connecticut has the lower state income tax top rate at 6.99%, compared with 10.75% in New Jersey.
Q Is housing cheaper in Connecticut or New Jersey?
Homes are cheaper in Connecticut, where the median home value is $326,200, versus $400,900 in New Jersey.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Connecticut or New Jersey?
New Jersey is more densely populated at 1,064.9 per sq mi people per sq mi. Connecticut is more spread out at 650.5 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.