The Best and Worst Connecticut Has to Offer

Reader’s Digest recently released a list of all 50 states and what each one is best and worst at. Naturally, I had to see what they said about Connecticut — and honestly, they’re not wrong. It’s pretty accurate… but also, there are so many more options for both categories if you actually live here.

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According to Reader’s Digest, Connecticut’s best trait is making money — which tracks. The state has the highest per-person average income in the country at $50,392. Hey, must be the money, right? Because it’s definitely not the roads.

That brings us to what we’re worst at — public roads. Over half of Connecticut’s 21,512 miles of public roads are in poor condition, according to the magazine. And if you’ve ever bounced down I-84 or tried to survive a spring pothole season in Danbury or Waterbury, you know that’s putting it politely.

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But here’s the thing: limiting Connecticut to “money” and “bad roads” feels like an understatement. Sure, that sums us up pretty neatly — rich people dodging craters — but we could build an entire list from local experience.

Here are a few more I’d like to submit for consideration…

Best: Connecticut’s got a lot going for it — from its architecture and rich history to that unmistakable New England charm that somehow makes even traffic circles look quaint. The cuisine here punches above its weight, the state consistently ranks high in education and healthcare, and the overall aesthetic is hard to beat — crisp, coastal, and expensive-looking in the best way. Add in the general sense of safety, and it’s easy to see why so many folks love living here.

Worst: Now for the other side of the coin. Connecticut struggles mightily when it comes to managing its public utility companies — looking at you, Eversource and UI — and still hasn’t figured out how to capture an identity that isn’t tied to pizza. We can’t seem to keep a professional sports team for more than a few years, and affordability remains more of a dream than a reality. Driving here is its own adventure (and not in a good way), and we collectively need to learn that not every conversation has to involve money, real estate, or someone’s 401(k).