Connecticut
CT • Northeast
Quality of Life Score
52.09
State Comparison
Connecticut vs New Jersey
Connecticut is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Connecticut, New Jersey has higher incomes, Connecticut has lower state income tax, and New Jersey gets more sunshine.
VS
New Jersey
NJ • Northeast
Better quality of life
Quality of Life Score
59.81
Connecticut
17
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
New Jersey
14
/ 31
metrics won
CT wins Housing
CT wins Quality of Life
NJ wins Climate
NJ wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Connecticut
vs
New Jersey
winner
New Jersey scores higher on quality of life — 7.72 points difference.
Quick Take
Connecticut vs New Jersey
This quick read mixes affordability, housing, income, politics, density, and climate so the biggest tradeoffs show up fast.
- Connecticut is about 1.6 times smaller than New Jersey.
- New Jersey has a larger population than Connecticut by 5,683,050 people.
- Connecticut has the lower cost-of-living index. Connecticut is at 113.1, while New Jersey is at 121.7.
- After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $99.03 of local buying power in Connecticut, versus $93.45 in New Jersey.
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 8.6 points cheaper overall
Connecticut has the lower cost-of-living index. Connecticut is at 113.1, while New Jersey is at 121.7.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $5.58 further in Connecticut
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $99.03 of local buying power in Connecticut, versus $93.45 in New Jersey.
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Income
New Jersey income is 7.7% higher
New Jersey has the higher median household income at $97,126, compared with $90,213 in Connecticut.
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Jobs
Connecticut minimum wage is $1.02 higher
Connecticut has the higher statewide minimum wage at $16.94/hr, compared with $15.92/hr in New Jersey.
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Housing
New Jersey homes cost about 1.2x more
Connecticut has the lower median home value at $326,200, versus $400,900 in New Jersey.
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Taxes
Connecticut has lower state income tax
Connecticut has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 6.99%, compared with 10.75% in New Jersey.
View detailed comparisonFull Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
CT
|
NJ
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Hartford | Trenton |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Solid Blue |
|
Population
|
3,605,944
|
9,288,994
|
|
Median Income
|
$90,213
|
$97,126
|
|
Cost of Living
|
113.1
|
121.7
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$326,200
|
$400,900
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.81%
|
2.11%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
6.99%
|
10.75%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$16.94/hr
|
$15.92/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.082/gal
|
$4.093/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
28.30 c/kWh
|
23.13 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
52.09
|
59.81
|
|
Average Temperature
|
49.0°F
|
52.7°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
82 days
|
94 days
|
|
Land Area
|
5,543 sq mi
|
8,723 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
650.5 per sq mi
|
1,064.9 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
January 9, 1788 (#5)
|
December 18, 1787 (#3)
|
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.
Saving Money
Connecticut is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 113.1 vs 121.7 in New Jersey. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
Connecticut is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $4.082/gal in Connecticut vs $4.093/gal in New Jersey. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
Connecticut has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $16.94/hr in Connecticut vs $15.92/hr in New Jersey. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
New Jersey has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 23.13 c/kWh in New Jersey 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 4.13x in New Jersey. 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 19.5% in New Jersey. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
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Property Tax
Connecticut has lower property taxes
Effective property tax rate: 1.81% in Connecticut vs 2.11% in New Jersey. A lower rate usually means a smaller yearly tax bill relative to home value.
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State Color
Connecticut votes bluer
2024 presidential margin: Dem +14.51 in Connecticut vs Dem +5.88 in New Jersey.
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Lower Taxes
Connecticut has lower income taxes
Top state income tax rate: 6.99% in Connecticut vs 10.75% in New Jersey.
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More Space
Connecticut feels less crowded
Population density: 650.5 per sq mi in Connecticut vs 1,064.9 per sq mi in New Jersey. Lower density usually means more space and less day-to-day congestion.
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Shorter Commute
Connecticut has the shorter commute
Average commute: 26.0 min in Connecticut vs 31.4 min in New Jersey.
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Job Opportunities
Connecticut looks better for job seekers
Unemployment rate: 4.2% in Connecticut vs 5.4% in New Jersey.
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Remote Workers
New Jersey looks better for remote workers
Livability score: 59.81 in New Jersey vs 52.09 in Connecticut.
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Families
Connecticut looks better for families
Connecticut wins more family-oriented signals in this matchup, including violent crime rate, life expectancy, uninsured rate compared with New Jersey.
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Warmer Climate
New Jersey is warmer overall
Average annual temperature: 52.7°F in New Jersey vs 49.0°F in Connecticut.
See full data
More Sunshine
New Jersey gets more sun
Sunny days per year: 94 days in New Jersey vs 82 days in Connecticut.
See full dataDetailed Metric Pages
Grouped tabs keep the deep-dive links tighter and easier to scan.
Population
New Jersey has a larger population than Connecticut by 5,683,050 people.
Population Density
New Jersey is more densely populated than Connecticut.
Bachelor's Degree
New Jersey has a higher college-educated share than Connecticut.
Advanced Degree
Connecticut has a higher advanced-degree share than New Jersey.
People Also Ask
Connecticut vs New Jersey - Common Questions
Q Is Connecticut cheaper to live in than New Jersey?
Connecticut has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Connecticut scores 113.1 versus 121.7 for New Jersey - a gap of 8.6 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Connecticut or New Jersey?
$100 goes further in Connecticut. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $99.03 in Connecticut, compared with $93.45 in New Jersey.
Q Which state is bigger - Connecticut or New Jersey?
New Jersey is larger, covering 8,723 sq mi compared with 5,543 sq mi for Connecticut - roughly 1.6x the size.
Q Does Connecticut or New Jersey have more people?
New Jersey has the larger population at 9,288,994, compared with 3,605,944 in Connecticut.
Q Which state has higher household income - Connecticut or New Jersey?
New Jersey has the higher median household income at $97,126, versus $90,213 in Connecticut.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Connecticut or New Jersey?
Connecticut has the lower state income tax top rate at 6.99%, compared with 10.75% in New Jersey.
Q Is housing cheaper in Connecticut or New Jersey?
Homes are cheaper in Connecticut, where the median home value is $326,200, versus $400,900 in New Jersey.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Connecticut or New Jersey?
New Jersey is more densely populated at 1,064.9 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.