Here's CT's Best Town To Live In, New Study Reveals

The best town to live in Connecticut is apparently Darien located in Fairfield County. That’s according to a new report from the financial news and opinion site 24/7 Wall St., which determined the best city to live in every state.

The authors acknowledged that while many things factor into what makes a place “home,” some specific attributes are commonly shared and “universally desirable.” These include essentials like safe streets, a strong local economy, affordability and diverse entertainment options.

Here’s a breakdown of Darien

• Population: 21,519
• 5 year population change: 4.6%
• Median home value: $1,248,200
• Median household income: $208,125

Here’s what the authors had to say:

"Darien is also one of the safest communities in the country. There were just 14 violent crimes for every 100,000 residents in 2017, a fraction of the 383 violent crimes per 100,000 people nationwide."

Money Magazine in late December decided that West Hartford was the best place to live in Connecticut saying, "There's no doubt the town of West Hartford benefits from Hartford, its namesake neighbor to the east. Residents can enjoy quick commute times — 19 minutes, on average — and easy access to performances by nationally touring entertainers.

"But the northern Connecticut town of just over 64,000 people is more than just a quiet suburb. West Hartford's own attractions include a bustling downtown shopping district, restaurants and bars, hiking trails, and the majority of the 101-acre Elizabeth Park, known locally for its rose gardens. Another reason to move to town? It's relatively affordable."

Most of the best cities to live in according to the new 24/7 Wall St report were relatively affluent. That includes Paradise Valley, dubbed the best place to live in Arizona, where the median home value is north of $1.3 million — more than seven times the national median. The median household in the town earns an income of $173,487.

To identify the best cities to live in, the researchers created a weighted index of more than two dozen measures in four categories: affordability, economy, quality of life and community. Some of the measures include ratio of median home value to median income, cost of living, unemployment rate, poverty rate, food insecurity rate, death rate and violent crime rate.

But several cities and towns were much more modest.

Batesville, Arkansas, was highlighted specifically because it’s so affordable and has various attractions and amenities. The median household in the city earns $42,143 a year, while the median home is worth $120,400.

“With roots as far back as 1804, Batesville is the second oldest city in Arkansas,” the authors noted. “The city, which avoided destruction in the Civil War, has a number of historic buildings and sites. There are attractions in the area for nearly every taste and preference, including antique stores, art galleries, an annual film festival, and the Batesville Motor Speedway.”

Patch national staffer Dan Hampton contributed to this report.

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