Connecticut
CT • Northeast
Quality of Life Score
52.09
State Comparison
Connecticut vs New York
Connecticut is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Connecticut, Connecticut has higher incomes, Connecticut has lower state income tax, and Connecticut gets more sunshine.
VS
New York
NY • Northeast
Better quality of life
Quality of Life Score
57.94
Connecticut
21
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
New York
10
/ 31
metrics won
CT wins Housing
CT wins Quality of Life
CT wins Climate
CT wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Connecticut
vs
New York
winner
New York scores higher on quality of life — 5.85 points difference.
Quick Take
Connecticut vs New York
This quick read mixes affordability, housing, income, politics, density, and climate so the biggest tradeoffs show up fast.
- Connecticut is about 9.8 times smaller than New York.
- New York has a larger population than Connecticut by 16,595,305 people.
- Connecticut has the lower cost-of-living index. Connecticut is at 113.1, while New York is at 132.7.
- After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $99.03 of local buying power in Connecticut, versus $88.30 in New York.
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 19.6 points cheaper overall
Connecticut has the lower cost-of-living index. Connecticut is at 113.1, while New York is at 132.7.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $10.73 further in Connecticut
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $99.03 of local buying power in Connecticut, versus $88.30 in New York.
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Income
Connecticut income is 14.8% higher
Connecticut has the higher median household income at $90,213, compared with $78,609 in New York.
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Jobs
New York has the higher minimum wage
New York has the higher statewide minimum wage at $16.50/hr, compared with $16.35/hr in Connecticut.
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Housing
New York homes cost about 1.1x more
Connecticut has the lower median home value at $326,200, versus $367,200 in New York.
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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 10.90% in New York.
View detailed comparisonFull Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
CT
|
NY
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Hartford | Albany |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Solid Blue |
|
Population
|
3,605,944
|
20,201,249
|
|
Median Income
|
$90,213
|
$78,609
|
|
Cost of Living
|
113.1
|
132.7
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$326,200
|
$367,200
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.81%
|
1.55%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
6.99%
|
10.90%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$16.35/hr
|
$16.50/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.082/gal
|
$4.069/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
28.30 c/kWh
|
28.37 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
52.09
|
57.94
|
|
Average Temperature
|
49.0°F
|
45.4°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
82 days
|
63 days
|
|
Land Area
|
5,543 sq mi
|
54,555 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
650.5 per sq mi
|
370.3 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
January 9, 1788 (#5)
|
July 26, 1788 (#11)
|
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
16
shown
Saving Money
Connecticut is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 113.1 vs 132.7 in New York. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
New York is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $4.069/gal in New York vs $4.082/gal in Connecticut. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
New York has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $16.50/hr in New York vs $16.35/hr in Connecticut. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Connecticut has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 28.30 c/kWh in Connecticut vs 28.37 c/kWh in New York. 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 4.67x in New York. 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 24.1% in New York. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
See full dataDetailed Metric Pages
Grouped tabs keep the deep-dive links tighter and easier to scan.
Population
New York has a larger population than Connecticut by 16,595,305 people.
Population Density
Connecticut is more densely populated than New York.
Bachelor's Degree
Connecticut has a higher college-educated share than New York.
Advanced Degree
Connecticut has a higher advanced-degree share than New York.
People Also Ask
Connecticut vs New York - Common Questions
Q Is Connecticut cheaper to live in than New York?
Connecticut has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Connecticut scores 113.1 versus 132.7 for New York - a gap of 19.6 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Connecticut or New York?
$100 goes further in Connecticut. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $99.03 in Connecticut, compared with $88.30 in New York.
Q Which state is bigger - Connecticut or New York?
New York is larger, covering 54,555 sq mi compared with 5,543 sq mi for Connecticut - roughly 9.8x the size.
Q Does Connecticut or New York have more people?
New York has the larger population at 20,201,249, compared with 3,605,944 in Connecticut.
Q Which state has higher household income - Connecticut or New York?
Connecticut has the higher median household income at $90,213, versus $78,609 in New York.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Connecticut or New York?
Connecticut has the lower state income tax top rate at 6.99%, compared with 10.90% in New York.
Q Is housing cheaper in Connecticut or New York?
Homes are cheaper in Connecticut, where the median home value is $326,200, versus $367,200 in New York.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Connecticut or New York?
Connecticut is more densely populated at 650.5 per sq mi people per sq mi. New York is more spread out at 370.3 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.