Connecticut Town Named one of the 15 Best Small Cities in America

According to a new study from Wallet Hub, one Connecticut town has landed among the best small cities in America, and it’s probably not the first place that comes to mind when you think about the best places to live in the country.

Stratford made WalletHub’s Top 15 list of the best small cities in America, coming in at number 11 overall with a score of 69.18. That puts Stratford in the top 1 percent of the more than 1,300 small cities included in the study. Not too shabby, Stratford.

WalletHub looked at cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000 people and compared them using 45 different factors. The researchers considered things like affordability, economic health, education and health, quality of life and safety. So basically, they threw just about everything into the blender before deciding which small cities were doing the best.

Stratford’s strongest showing came in the education and health category, where it ranked 34th nationally. The town also ranked 84th for economic health. Its other category rankings were 501st for affordability, 709th for quality of life and 331st for safety.

The study points out that smaller cities can have some pretty obvious advantages over major metropolitan areas. You might get more space, shorter commutes and fewer people fighting you for the last parking spot. Of course, you may also have fewer restaurant options and businesses that close before you even finish thinking about going out.

The bigger takeaway for Connecticut is that Stratford is holding its own against communities from all over the country. The Top 15 includes cities in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Indiana, North Carolina, New York, Tennessee, Virginia and Colorado.

And yes, Connecticut made the list. We will take the victory wherever we can get it.

Top 15 Best Small Cities in America

1. Lexington, MA

2. Brookfield, WI

3. Carmel, IN

4. Apex, NC

5. Saratoga Springs, NY

6. Westfield, IN

7. Milton, MA

8. Arlington, MA

9. Franklin, TN

10. Fishers, IN

11. Stratford, CT

12. Appleton, WI

13. Leesburg, VA

14. Brentwood, TN

15. Castle Rock, CO

The Hateful 8: The Most Dangerous Gangs in Connecticut You Need to Know About

Your exposure to gangs and gang violence is probably a lot like mine. You see gang stories told on fictional TV shows like "Sons of Anarchy" or in the movies and think, eh not my problem. Not so fast Nutmegger! According to the CT Justice Department gangs are a real problem in the State of Connecticut.

Here are the 8 Most Dangerous Gangs in the Nutmeg State

Gallery Credit: Lou Milano

Rich Is Better! Connecticut's 50 Wealthiest Neighborhoods 2024

You might have heard the saying, "I've been rich and I've been poor. Rich is better." While I've only experienced one side of that equation and it's not the more favorable, I still find the wealth in Connecticut intriguing. If you share my curiosity, you'll be interested to explore the 50 wealthiest neighborhoods in Connecticut. This isn't a general list of towns but a curated selection of the top 50 richest neighborhoods in the Nutmeg State, as identified by Forbes.

Note: This list covers neighborhoods ranked from 10 to 1, plus a few additional ones in the Greater-Danbury area. You can find the full list from 50 to 1 at the bottom of this article.

Gallery Credit: Lou Milano

$7.5 Million Luxury Home in Ridgefield – Designed by Renowned Architect

Located in the rolling hills of Ridgefield, Connecticut, this extraordinary home at 191 Ridgebury Road is a modern architectural masterpiece designed by Rafael Viñoly. Set on nearly 5 acres, this home offers unrivaled views, world-class design, and exceptional amenities. This one-of-a-kind home is on the market right now for $7.5 Million. Take a closer look through the photos below to see this stunning property, inside and out.

Listing: Peggy Marconi - Compass

Gallery Credit: Lou Milano

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