The Best Places to Live in Connecticut for Your Career

Located in southern New England, Connecticut is known for its breathtaking fall foliage, prestigious universities, and quaint coastal communities.

From the New York City suburbs in the southwest to the quiet rural towns in the north, Connecticut has one of the most diverse landscapes and array of communities in New England—all within a small area. If Connecticut sounds like the type of place you want to move to, you may be interested in learning about the best places to live in Connecticut and what kinds of jobs you can find there.

Here are a few more reasons to live and work in Connecticut:

• Connecticut has ranked among the best states for healthcare and education.
• Connecticut is centrally located between several major northeast cities.
• Residents here have access to beautiful beaches and coastal communities.
• There are tons of outdoor recreation options throughout the state.
• Connecticut boasts a healthy economy.
• There are tons of high-paying jobs in Connecticut.

Below, Monster outlines the best places to live in Connecticut to help you decide which one is best for you and your career.

Hartford

Hartford is Connecticut’s state capital and its most centrally located city. If you ask Hartford residents why it’s one of the best cities to live in Connecticut, you’ll get many different answers.

It may because of Hartford’s diverse cultural offerings and thriving arts scene. The greater Hartford area is home to hundreds of art galleries, including Real Art Ways, RAW, and the Greater Hartford Arts Council. Hartford also has a lively downtown area with tons of restaurants—from fine dining to chophouses—and nightlife. And, as one of the oldest states in the country, Hartford has a ton of history, memorialized in the Mark Twain House & Museum, the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, and the Connecticut State Capitol.

Hartford is one of the best places to live in Connecticut if you’re looking for administrative, finance, and professional service jobs. It’s known as the “Insurance Capital of the World” because it’s home to some of the world’s largest insurance companies. However, insurance is only one of Hartford’s top industries. There are plenty of jobs in healthcare, manufacturing, aerospace, broadcasting, and logistics as well.

Find Hartford jobs on Monster.

New Haven

New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and home to the world-renowned Yale University. The city is known as the “Cultural Capital of Connecticut” because of its high concentration of theaters, museums, art galleries, and music venues. On the Yale campus alone, you can browse the exhibits at the Yale University Art Gallery or the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History.

Some of the best parts of New Haven can be found in the downtown area around Chapel Street and Elm Street. It’s a great place to find food from around the world. Plus, you can unwind while you watch live music, a performance, or even the cabaret.

New Haven is also one of the best cities to live in Connecticut because of its diverse economy. People looking for jobs here can find them in bioscience, technology, higher education, advanced manufacturing, and food services.

Find New Haven jobs on Monster.

Stamford

Stamford is located in southern Connecticut on the Long Island Sound. It’s the state’s third-largest city and the closest to New York City. The city’s pristine skyline houses many large company headquarters and branches, including AT&T, IBM, Bank of America, and Apple. But there’s much more to Stamford that makes it one of the best places to live in Connecticut.

Within the city limits, residents enjoy the vibrant downtown. You can catch a live art performance at The Palace Theatre or a movie at any of the cinemas located throughout the city. The nightlife here ranges from small pubs to lively nightclubs and music venues. Or you can easily take the train into New York City.

Stamford is known as “The City That Works” for a reason. Its economy is made up of a variety of sectors, where you can find jobs in finance, insurance, science, technology, digital media, entertainment, professional services, healthcare, manufacturing, and hospitality.

Find Stamford jobs on Monster.

Norwich

Known as the “Rose of New England,” Norwich is a small city in eastern Connecticut. Norwich is one of the best places to live in Connecticut because of its beautiful natural surroundings, quaint downtown, and picturesque harbor. Residents here also love the proximity to Foxwoods Casino, Mohegan Sun, Harkness Park, and sandy beaches.

Norwich’s downtown is lined with historic buildings dating back to 1737 that house cafes, bars, restaurants, and local shops. More into art than history? Whether you’re looking to catch live music or performance art or browse galleries, the Norwich Arts Center can liven up your evening.

The local economy is made up of jobs in the arts, entertainment, healthcare, education, construction, hospitality, food services, and government. The city’s biggest employers are William W. Bachus Hospital, the Board of Education, the City of Norwich, and the Computer Science Corporation.

Find Norwich jobs on Monster.

Danbury

Did you know that Connecticut once had its own Beantown? It’s not called Boston—Danbury earned the nickname hundreds of years ago because of the quality of its beans. Today, it’s home to Western Connecticut State University and a historic downtown where you can spend a day at a café or bookstore or wine and dine on a night out. Danbury is also one of the best places to live in Connecticut for families because of its suburban atmosphere, great schools, and family-friendly attractions.

Danbury’s diverse economy comprises several key sectors. Among them are retail, manufacturing, finance, insurance, professional services, and hospitality. Its top employers include Danbury Hospital Medical Services, Cendant Mobility, Union Carbide, and the Danbury School District.

Find Danbury jobs on Monster.

Bridgeport

Bridgeport is Connecticut’s largest city by population and is located on the southern coast between New Haven and Stamford. Bridgeport has the appeal of a typical New England coastal town, with a couple interesting additions. The Barnum Museum offers insight into one of America’s most historical entertainers while the Downtown Cabaret Theatre is a great place to see a live show. Bridgeport also has more than 1,300 acres of public parks, where you can enjoy a walk by the seaside or an afternoon picnic.

Historically, manufacturing and trade have fueled Bridgeport’s economy. But people looking to live and work here can also find jobs in professional services, education, healthcare, government, finance, and hospitality. The top employers in Bridgeport include Peoples Bank, Bridgeport Hospital, St. Vincent Medical Center, and the city’s government.

Find Bridgeport jobs on Monster.

Ready to Find Jobs in the Best Places to Live in CT?

Are any of the best places to live in Connecticut calling your name? If so, embark on your journey to the “Nutmeg State” by searching Monster for jobs that interest you. Getting started is easy. Just create your free profile and upload your resume, so Connecticut job recruiters can find you. Then, consider opting in to our free job alerts, so you can be the first to apply when a new position in your field becomes available.