Danbury Is The Only CT City On ‘Best Places To Live’ List, Ranking Says

DANBURY, CT — Danbury is among the best small- to mid-sized cities to live in the U.S., according to a new ranking from Livability.com.

The city was included in the site’s 2026 list of the 100 Best Places to Live, which highlights communities across the country based on affordability and overall quality of life.

Danbury was the only city in Connecticut to make the list.

The ranking focuses on cities with populations between 75,000 and 500,000 and excludes places where median home values exceed $500,000, aiming to spotlight communities where residents can realistically afford to live.

Researchers evaluated more than 2,000 cities using over 100 data points, including the economy, housing, amenities, transportation, environment, safety, education and health.

Livability said the list is designed to reflect places where residents can “thrive,” pointing to factors such as shorter commutes, accessible amenities and community infrastructure.

Topping this year’s list is Huntsville, Alabama, followed by Carmel, Indiana; Sugar Land, Texas; Naperville, Illinois; and Plano, Texas.

The report reflects a broader trend of smaller cities gaining attention as alternatives to larger, more expensive metropolitan areas.