These Are The 10 Most Successful Cities In Connecticut

Top 10 Most Successful Cities in Connecticut for 2026

What defines success in today’s world? Is it simply the wealth in your bank account, the satisfaction of delivering an impactful presentation, or perhaps the joy of sharing a well-timed joke?

Success could be something deeper—an elusive concept that’s hard to measure and entirely subjective.

At Zippia, we appreciate data that allows us to quantify success. Using clear metrics, we’ve identified the top 10 most successful cities in Connecticut for 2026. Here’s the list:

If you’re questioning the validity of our list, stay with us; there’s a method behind our rankings.

For further insights into Connecticut, consider checking out:

How We Determined the Most Successful Cities in Connecticut

When we think of success, financial stability often comes to mind. However, success encompasses more than just wealth. To create our rankings, we analyzed data from the latest American Community Survey.

1. Shelton

Source: Wikipedia

Population: 40,472 Median Income: $88,369
Poverty Level: 4.9%
Unemployment Rate: 8.6%

2. Milford

Population: 51,509 Median Income: $80,793
Poverty Level: 5.3%
Unemployment Rate: 8.1%

3. Norwalk

Population: 87,214 Median Income: $76,051
Poverty Level: 8.0%
Unemployment Rate: 9.3%

4. Danbury

Population: 82,781 Median Income: $65,981
Poverty Level: 10.4%
Unemployment Rate: 8.5%

5. Middletown

Population: 47,424 Median Income: $61,373
Poverty Level: 11.8%
Unemployment Rate: 7.4%

6. Stamford

Population: 125,401 Median Income: $77,221
Poverty Level: 9.1%
Unemployment Rate: 10.2%

7. Bristol

Population: 60,556 Median Income: $60,208
Poverty Level: 8.8%
Unemployment Rate: 10.6%

8. Torrington

Population: 35,774 Median Income: $55,460
Poverty Level: 11.0%
Unemployment Rate: 9.5%

9. Naugatuck

Population: 31,790 Median Income: $58,641
Poverty Level: 8.6%
Unemployment Rate: 11.5%

10. Groton

Population: 9,348 Median Income: $51,475
Poverty Level: 12.3%
Unemployment Rate: 9.1%

Measuring Success

If you’re pondering whether metrics can truly encapsulate the essence of a city’s success or the individuals within it, you might have a point.

Nonetheless, we believe our method provides valuable insights into success in Connecticut. Congratulations to Shelton and all the featured cities. For those that didn’t make the list, there’s always next year!

Detailed List of the Most Successful Cities in Connecticut

Rank	City	Median Income	Poverty Rate	Unemployment Rate
1	Shelton	$88,369	4.9%	8.6%
2	Milford	$80,793	5.3%	8.1%
3	Norwalk	$76,051	8.0%	9.3%
4	Danbury	$65,981	10.4%	8.5%
5	Middletown	$61,373	11.8%	7.4%
6	Stamford	$77,221	9.1%	10.2%
7	Bristol	$60,208	8.8%	10.6%
8	Torrington	$55,460	11.0%	9.5%
9	Naugatuck	$58,641	8.6%	11.5%
10	Groton	$51,475	12.3%	9.1%
11	Derby	$52,136	9.4%	11.6%
12	Meriden	$53,401	13.7%	11.9%
13	West Haven	$49,993	12.2%	13.1%
14	Norwich	$49,695	13.8%	11.4%
15	Ansonia	$43,144	16.4%	13.1%
16	Waterbury	$41,136	20.8%	13.7%
17	Bridgeport	$41,204	20.4%	16.6%
18	New Britain	$40,515	22.2%	14.1%
19	New London	$41,230	23.1%	15.5%
20	New Haven	$37,508	24.4%	13.7%
21	Hartford	$29,313	30.6%	20.2%

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Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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