Connecticut
CT • Northeast
Quality of Life Score
52.09
State Comparison
Connecticut vs Texas
Texas is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Texas, Connecticut has higher incomes, Texas has lower state income tax, and Texas gets more sunshine.
Connecticut
13
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
Texas
18
/ 31
metrics won
TX wins Quality of Life
TX wins Climate
CT wins Income
CT wins Demographics
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Connecticut
winner
vs
Texas
Connecticut scores higher on quality of life — 4.88 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
Texas is 18.8 points cheaper overall
Texas has the lower cost-of-living index. Texas is at 94.3, while Connecticut is at 113.1.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $10.14 further in Texas
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $109.17 of local buying power in Texas, versus $99.03 in Connecticut.
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Income
Connecticut income is 34.7% higher
Connecticut has the higher median household income at $90,213, compared with $66,963 in Texas.
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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 Texas.
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Housing
Connecticut homes cost about 1.1x more
Texas has the lower median home value at $294,400, versus $326,200 in Connecticut.
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Taxes
Texas has lower state income tax
Texas has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 0.00%, compared with 6.99% in Connecticut.
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What's Your Salary Really Worth?
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
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- 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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Texas
- 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, 97.2 for Texas). 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 housing cost index.
- Connecticut shows higher median income.
- Connecticut has a lower violent crime rate.
- Connecticut health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Connecticut health coverage access proxy is stronger.
- Connecticut education proxy is higher.
Cons
- Connecticut has a higher overall cost of living.
- Connecticut has higher median home values.
- Connecticut has higher property tax rates on average.
- Connecticut job growth trend is weaker.
- Connecticut has fewer sunny days.
Texas
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Texas
- Texas has a lower overall cost of living.
- Texas has lower median home values.
- Texas has lower property tax rates on average.
- Texas job growth trend is stronger.
- Texas has more sunny days.
Cons
- Texas has a higher housing cost index.
- Texas shows lower median income.
- Texas has a higher violent crime rate.
- Texas health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Texas health coverage access proxy is weaker.
- Texas education proxy is lower.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
CT
|
TX
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Hartford | Austin |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
3,605,944
|
29,145,505
|
|
Median Income
|
$90,213
|
$66,963
|
|
Cost of Living
|
113.1
|
94.3
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$326,200
|
$294,400
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.81%
|
1.49%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
6.99%
|
None (0%)
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$16.35/hr
|
$7.25/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.082/gal
|
$3.824/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
28.30 c/kWh
|
15.69 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
52.09
|
47.21
|
|
Average Temperature
|
49.0°F
|
64.8°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
82 days
|
135 days
|
|
Land Area
|
5,543 sq mi
|
268,596 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
650.5 per sq mi
|
108.5 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
January 9, 1788 (#5)
|
December 29, 1845 (#28)
|
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
Texas is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 94.3 vs 113.1 in Connecticut. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
Texas is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.824/gal in Texas 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 Texas. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Texas has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 15.69 c/kWh in Texas 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 4.40x in Texas. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
See full data
Renting
Connecticut is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 18.9% in Connecticut vs 22.1% in Texas. 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
Texas has a larger population than Connecticut by 25,539,561 people.
Population Density
Connecticut is more densely populated than Texas.
Bachelor's Degree
Connecticut has a higher college-educated share than Texas.
Advanced Degree
Connecticut has a higher advanced-degree share than Texas.
People Also Ask
Connecticut vs Texas - Common Questions
Q Is Connecticut cheaper to live in than Texas?
Texas has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Texas scores 94.3 versus 113.1 for Connecticut - a gap of 18.8 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Connecticut or Texas?
$100 goes further in Texas. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $109.17 in Texas, compared with $99.03 in Connecticut.
Q Which state is bigger - Connecticut or Texas?
Texas is larger, covering 268,596 sq mi compared with 5,543 sq mi for Connecticut - roughly 48.5x the size.
Q Does Connecticut or Texas have more people?
Texas has the larger population at 29,145,505, compared with 3,605,944 in Connecticut.
Q Which state has higher household income - Connecticut or Texas?
Connecticut has the higher median household income at $90,213, versus $66,963 in Texas.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Connecticut or Texas?
Texas has no state income tax, while Connecticut charges up to 6.99%.
Q Is housing cheaper in Connecticut or Texas?
Homes are cheaper in Texas, where the median home value is $294,400, versus $326,200 in Connecticut.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Connecticut or Texas?
Connecticut is more densely populated at 650.5 per sq mi people per sq mi. Texas is more spread out at 108.5 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.