West Hartford is the highest-ranked town in New England and the only town in Connecticut included in U.S. News & World Report’s ‘Best Places to Live’ for 2026-2027.

By Ronni Newton

U.S. News & World Report has released its list of the “Top 250 Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2026-2027, and West Hartford was again the top-ranked town in the state, and with a national ranking of No. 49, was the only Connecticut town among the top 250.

More than 800 towns throughout the country were reviewed for the 2026-2027 rankings – and West Hartford was the highest-rated town in the Northeast. The highest-rated town in Massachusetts was Newton (No. 116) and New York’s top town was Massapequa Park at No. 118. No other states in the region had towns that made the overall “Best of” list

West Hartford received an overall score of 6.5 for 2026-2027, according to the rankings which a U.S. News states are determined based on a methodology that includes public data and user opinions, and looks at four indexes – value, quality of life, desirability, and job market. The indexes are weighted based on a public survey conducted in February 2026 “in which people from across the country voted for what they believed was the most important factor to consider when choosing where to live,” according to U.S. News.

Mayor Shari Cantor was thrileld that the town was again the top-ranked in the state and also highly-ranked nationally. “Being recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top 50 communities in the nation is a tremendous honor for West Hartford,” said Cantor.

“This ranking validates what residents have long known – that West Hartford offers an exceptional quality of life, strong schools, vibrant neighborhoods, economic opportunity, and a welcoming community spirit. I want to thank our residents, businesses, educators, public safety professionals, town employees, and community organizations whose collective efforts make West Hartford such a desirable place to live, work, and raise a family. We are proud to see our community recognized on both a regional and national stage,” she said.

“This recognition by U.S. News & World Report affirms the strength of West Hartford as a community and the effectiveness of our long-term commitment to providing exceptional municipal services, maintaining high-quality infrastructure, and fostering a vibrant local economy,” said Town Manager Rick Ledwith.

“Being ranked No. 1 in Connecticut and No. 1 in New England reflects the collective efforts of our residents, businesses, community partners, elected officials, and town staff. Together, we have built a community that offers an outstanding quality of life, strong public services, and a welcoming environment for people of all ages. We are honored to receive this recognition and remain committed to ensuring that West Hartford continues to be one of the nation’s most desirable places to live,” Ledwith added.

Carmel, Indiana, which earned an overall score of 7.2, topped the 2026-2027 list. According to U.S. News, the city of 103,768 has a median age of 39.7, median household income of $144,615, and an average commute time of about 20.85 minutes. The unemployment rate here is 3.28%. The median home value is $477,625 and the median rent is $1,457.

U.S. News lists West Hartford’s population as 64,474, with a median age of 39.0, a median household income of $127,641, and average commute time of 18.67 minutes. West Hartford’s unemployment rate is 2.93%, the median home value is $394,329, and the median rent is $1,408, according to the reported data.

Other locations in the top 10 nationally included Fishers, IN; Flower Mound, TX; Ankeny, IA; Johns Creek, GA (last year’s No. 1 location); Hoover, AL; Rochester Hills, MI; Leander, TX; Frisco, TX; and Sugar Land, TX.

In Connecticut, Norwalk was No. 2 (No. 479 nationally), followed by Stamford, Greenwich, and Danbury.

The full U.S. News & World Report rankings “250 Best Places to Live in 2026-2027” can be found here.

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