Quality of Life Score
52.09
State Comparison
Connecticut vs Rhode Island
Connecticut is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Rhode Island, Connecticut has higher incomes, Rhode Island has lower state income tax, and Rhode Island gets more sunshine.
Connecticut
19
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
Rhode Island
12
/ 31
metrics won
CT wins Housing
CT wins Quality of Life
RI wins Climate
CT wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Connecticut
winner
vs
Rhode Island
Connecticut scores higher on quality of life — 0.04 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 2.1 points cheaper overall
Connecticut has the lower cost-of-living index. Connecticut is at 113.1, while Rhode Island is at 115.2.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $1.80 further in Rhode Island
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $100.83 of local buying power in Rhode Island, versus $99.03 in Connecticut.
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Income
Connecticut income is 16.1% higher
Connecticut has the higher median household income at $90,213, compared with $77,728 in Rhode Island.
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Jobs
Connecticut minimum wage is $1.35 higher
Connecticut has the higher statewide minimum wage at $16.35/hr, compared with $15.00/hr in Rhode Island.
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Housing
Rhode Island homes cost about 1.1x more
Connecticut has the lower median home value at $326,200, versus $371,600 in Rhode Island.
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Taxes
Rhode Island has lower state income tax
Rhode Island has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 5.99%, compared with 6.99% in Connecticut.
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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
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
Rhode Island
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 6.0%)
- —
- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
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, 102.8 for Rhode Island). 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 shows higher median income.
- Connecticut has a lower violent crime rate.
- Connecticut job growth trend is stronger.
Cons
- Connecticut has higher property tax rates on average.
- Connecticut health coverage access proxy is weaker.
- Connecticut has fewer sunny days.
Rhode Island
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Rhode Island
- Rhode Island has lower property tax rates on average.
- Rhode Island health coverage access proxy is stronger.
- Rhode Island has more sunny days.
Cons
- Rhode Island has a higher overall cost of living.
- Rhode Island has a higher housing cost index.
- Rhode Island has higher median home values.
- Rhode Island shows lower median income.
- Rhode Island has a higher violent crime rate.
- Rhode Island job growth trend is weaker.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
CT
|
RI
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Hartford | Providence |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Solid Blue |
|
Population
|
3,605,944
|
1,097,379
|
|
Median Income
|
$90,213
|
$77,728
|
|
Cost of Living
|
113.1
|
115.2
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$326,200
|
$371,600
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.81%
|
1.21%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
6.99%
|
5.99%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$16.35/hr
|
$15.00/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.082/gal
|
$3.997/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
28.30 c/kWh
|
30.14 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
52.09
|
52.05
|
|
Average Temperature
|
49.0°F
|
50.1°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
82 days
|
98 days
|
|
Land Area
|
5,543 sq mi
|
1,545 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
650.5 per sq mi
|
710.3 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
January 9, 1788 (#5)
|
May 29, 1790 (#13)
|
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 115.2 in Rhode Island. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
Rhode Island is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.997/gal in Rhode Island 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 $15.00/hr in Rhode Island. 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 30.14 c/kWh in Rhode Island. 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 4.78x in Rhode Island. 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 19.4% in Rhode Island. 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 Rhode Island by 2,508,565 people.
Population Density
Rhode Island is more densely populated than Connecticut.
Bachelor's Degree
Connecticut has a higher college-educated share than Rhode Island.
Advanced Degree
Connecticut has a higher advanced-degree share than Rhode Island.
People Also Ask
Connecticut vs Rhode Island - Common Questions
Q Is Connecticut cheaper to live in than Rhode Island?
Connecticut has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Connecticut scores 113.1 versus 115.2 for Rhode Island - a gap of 2.1 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Connecticut or Rhode Island?
$100 goes further in Rhode Island. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $100.83 in Rhode Island, compared with $99.03 in Connecticut.
Q Which state is bigger - Connecticut or Rhode Island?
Connecticut is larger, covering 5,543 sq mi compared with 1,545 sq mi for Rhode Island - roughly 3.6x the size.
Q Does Connecticut or Rhode Island have more people?
Connecticut has the larger population at 3,605,944, compared with 1,097,379 in Rhode Island.
Q Which state has higher household income - Connecticut or Rhode Island?
Connecticut has the higher median household income at $90,213, versus $77,728 in Rhode Island.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Connecticut or Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has the lower state income tax top rate at 5.99%, compared with 6.99% in Connecticut.
Q Is housing cheaper in Connecticut or Rhode Island?
Homes are cheaper in Connecticut, where the median home value is $326,200, versus $371,600 in Rhode Island.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Connecticut or Rhode Island?
Rhode Island is more densely populated at 710.3 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.