Connecticut
CT • Northeast
Quality of Life Score
52.09
State Comparison
Connecticut vs New York
Connecticut is cheaper overall, while Connecticut has higher incomes, Connecticut has lower state income tax, and Connecticut gets more sunshine.
VS
New York
NY • Northeast
Better quality of life
Quality of Life Score
57.94
Connecticut
21
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
New York
10
/ 31
metrics won
CT wins Housing
CT wins Quality of Life
CT wins Climate
CT wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Connecticut
vs
New York
winner
New York scores higher on quality of life — 5.85 points difference.
Quick Take
Connecticut vs New York
This quick read mixes affordability, housing, income, politics, density, and climate so the biggest tradeoffs show up fast.
- Connecticut is about 9.8 times smaller than New York.
- New York has a larger population than Connecticut by 16,595,305 people.
- Connecticut has the lower cost-of-living index. Connecticut is at 113.1, while New York is at 132.7.
- Connecticut has the higher median household income at $90,213, compared with $78,609 in New York.
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 19.6 points cheaper overall
Connecticut has the lower cost-of-living index. Connecticut is at 113.1, while New York is at 132.7.
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Income
Connecticut income is 14.8% higher
Connecticut has the higher median household income at $90,213, compared with $78,609 in New York.
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Jobs
New York has the higher minimum wage
New York has the higher statewide minimum wage at $17.00/hr, compared with $16.94/hr in Connecticut.
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Housing
New York homes cost about 1.1x more
Connecticut has the lower median home value at $326,200, versus $367,200 in New York.
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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 10.90% in New York.
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Cost of Driving
New York has slightly cheaper gas
New York has the lower regular gas price at $4.069/gal, versus $4.082/gal in Connecticut.
View detailed comparisonFull Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
CT
|
NY
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Hartford | Albany |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Solid Blue |
|
Population
|
3,605,944
|
20,201,249
|
|
Median Income
|
$90,213
|
$78,609
|
|
Cost of Living
|
113.1
|
132.7
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$326,200
|
$367,200
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.81%
|
1.55%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
6.99%
|
10.90%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$16.94/hr
|
$17.00/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.082/gal
|
$4.069/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
28.30 c/kWh
|
28.37 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
52.09
|
57.94
|
|
Average Temperature
|
49.0°F
|
45.4°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
82 days
|
63 days
|
|
Land Area
|
5,543 sq mi
|
54,555 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
650.5 per sq mi
|
370.3 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
January 9, 1788 (#5)
|
July 26, 1788 (#11)
|
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.
Saving Money
Connecticut is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 113.1 vs 132.7 in New York. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
New York is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $4.069/gal in New York vs $4.082/gal in Connecticut. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
New York has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $17.00/hr in New York vs $16.94/hr in Connecticut. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Connecticut has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 28.30 c/kWh in Connecticut vs 28.37 c/kWh in New York. 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 4.67x in New York. 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 24.1% in New York. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
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Property Tax
New York has lower property taxes
Effective property tax rate: 1.55% in New York vs 1.81% in Connecticut. A lower rate usually means a smaller yearly tax bill relative to home value.
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State Color
Connecticut votes bluer
2024 presidential margin: Dem +14.51 in Connecticut vs Dem +12.52 in New York.
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Lower Taxes
Connecticut has lower income taxes
Top state income tax rate: 6.99% in Connecticut vs 10.90% in New York.
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More Space
New York feels less crowded
Population density: 370.3 per sq mi in New York vs 650.5 per sq mi in Connecticut. Lower density usually means more space and less day-to-day congestion.
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Shorter Commute
Connecticut has the shorter commute
Average commute: 26.0 min in Connecticut vs 31.2 min in New York.
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Job Opportunities
Connecticut looks better for job seekers
Unemployment rate: 4.2% in Connecticut vs 4.6% in New York.
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Remote Workers
New York looks better for remote workers
Livability score: 57.94 in New York vs 52.09 in Connecticut.
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Families
Connecticut looks better for families
Connecticut wins more family-oriented signals in this matchup, including violent crime rate, life expectancy, bachelor's degree compared with New York.
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Warmer Climate
Connecticut is warmer overall
Average annual temperature: 49.0°F in Connecticut vs 45.4°F in New York.
See full data
More Sunshine
Connecticut gets more sun
Sunny days per year: 82 days in Connecticut vs 63 days in New York.
See full dataDetailed Metric Pages
Grouped tabs keep the deep-dive links tighter and easier to scan.
Population
New York has a larger population than Connecticut by 16,595,305 people.
Population Density
Connecticut is more densely populated than New York.
Bachelor's Degree
Connecticut has a higher college-educated share than New York.
Advanced Degree
Connecticut has a higher advanced-degree share than New York.
People Also Ask
Connecticut vs New York - Common Questions
Q Is Connecticut cheaper to live in than New York?
Connecticut has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Connecticut scores 113.1 versus 132.7 for New York - a gap of 19.6 points.
Q Which state is bigger - Connecticut or New York?
New York is larger, covering 54,555 sq mi compared with 5,543 sq mi for Connecticut - roughly 9.8x the size.
Q Does Connecticut or New York have more people?
New York has the larger population at 20,201,249, compared with 3,605,944 in Connecticut.
Q Which state has higher household income - Connecticut or New York?
Connecticut has the higher median household income at $90,213, versus $78,609 in New York.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Connecticut or New York?
Connecticut has the lower state income tax top rate at 6.99%, compared with 10.90% in New York.
Q Is housing cheaper in Connecticut or New York?
Homes are cheaper in Connecticut, where the median home value is $326,200, versus $367,200 in New York.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Connecticut or New York?
Connecticut is more densely populated at 650.5 per sq mi people per sq mi. New York is more spread out at 370.3 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, with minimum wage data 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.