1. First steps before moving to Connecticut
Find a reliable moving company, truck rental or moving container
For your move to Connecticut, you will need to hire a reliable moving company or take on the move yourself. To find the best moving company in Connecticut, look for helpful reviews, a professional-looking website, and years of experience.
Planning a move to Connecticut? Take a look at our selection of:
Finding a job
As of September 2023, Connecticut has an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which is the same as the August 2023 rate.
Jobs that are often in high demand are personal care assistant, registered nurses, and crew member.
Finding a job in Connecticut is easier if you search online for job openings. Popular websites for this include LinkedIn, Indeed, and SimplyHired.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics (Oct 2023)
Getting there
Below are some travel options to get to Connecticut from different parts of the country include:
Flying: Flying is the most convenient way to move to Connecticut. Book a flight from your departure city to Bradley International Airport, depending on your destination within Connecticut.
Train: You can also take the train with Amtrak as an alternative.
Bus: If you want another way to travel, Connecticut cities have bus services like Greyhound, and Flixbus, that can get you there.
If you are flying and require assistance with moving your belongings, you can explore options provided by reputable moving companies.
Must dos before your arrival
Moving to Connecticut may be exciting and will challenge you in many ways. By knowing these things beforehand, you will be better prepared for your new life in the city.
- If you are moving to Connecticut permanently, and you receive a lot of mail (excluding packages), you may want to sign up with USPS’s mail forwarding service. Mail forwarding allows your mail to be redirected to the right address for a given period of time. The fee for regular mail forwarding is only a little over a dollar for 6 months. If you want to extend the service, you will have to pay around $20 for 6 months more. You can begin your mail forwarding process by signing up on USPS’s website or directly at your local Post Office.
- Moving to a new place is an opportunity to start afresh. If you’re moving to Connecticut, selling or donating the items you won’t need will go a long way in making your move easier. You can sell your old household items and personal possessions, and anything that will not be useful. Pick out the items that will not be useful for you in Connecticut, then decide if you want to sell them on websites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace or donate them to a non-profit organization.
2. Upon your arrival in Connecticut
Must dos right upon your arrival
- Get familiar with your neighborhood, and make sure to take note of the important emergency numbers.
- If you roam around the city for work or just simply checking on it, it would be great to purchase a daily pass to save money.
- Locate the essential facilities like the nearest hospital, police station, and fire department for your safety and in case of emergency.
You can easily get around in Connecticut. There are several options available.
- Traveling by bus: If you live in New Haven/Hartford, you can avail services from CT Transit, it offers services to 26 towns in the Hartford and New Haven areas.
- If you live in Greater Hartford/Bristol/Waterbury, you can avail services from CTfastrak.
- If you live in Middletown, you can avail services from the Estuary Transit District.
Exchanging your driver’s license
Once you move to Connecticut, you must transfer your out-of-state driver’s license within 30 days of your move. In order to transfer your out-of-state driver’s license, you’ll need to visit your local CT DMV office and submit the Application for Driver’s License form.
Register your vehicle
If you have just moved to Connecticut, you’ll have to register your out-of-state vehicle within 60 days. Failure to do so might result in penalties and additional charges. Before you get your car registered in Connecticut:
Get your emissions tested at an emission testing center and your vehicle identification number (VIN) verified. You might be exempted from emission testing, depending upon the type of vehicle you have. You need to fill out the registration application and submit it to a local CT DMV office. Furthermore, you can visit the Car Registration Page to check out all the documentation requirements and details.
Change your address
Along with mail forwarding, you will also have to update your new address with the concerned authorities in Connecticut, like the DMV. To exercise your right to vote in Connecticut, you can register to vote online, by mail and in person.
To register by mail, you need to fill the Out the State Mail-In Voter Registration Form and mail it to your local town hall. To register in person, you can fill out the same form and bring it to your voter registration office.
Changing your address with your employer, bank, doctor, insurer, and service providers so that you can avoid any complications further down the road.
Setting up a bank account
Obtaining a bank account in Connecticut is a straightforward process. You only need to present a copy of your valid state or government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license or passport. The bank with most branches in Connecticut for easy access is M&T Bank. Connecticut’s residents has access to a whopping 162 offices of M&T Bank in the state.
Getting health insurance
Getting health insurance is an excellent way to get peace of mind when it comes to your health. With health insurance, you will not have to worry about spending a ton of money in case of a health-related emergency. The state of Connecticut proposes a website to help you with your health insurance search. Simply choose Connecticut as your state and create an account.
|
Type of healthcare |
Cost |
|
Employer-sponsored health insurance |
$154.00 |
|
Non-employer-sponsored health insurance |
$638.33 |
|
Gym |
$22.75 |
Numbeo (Oct 2023) & EHealthInsurance (Oct 2023)
3. Best places to live in Connecticut
If you are a couple, you might want to consider living in West Hartford. It offers a dense suburban feel and has some of the best coffee shops, parks, bars, shopping malls and housing facilities. It is also good in terms of safety and diversity.
If you are a family, you might want to consider Ridgefield. It has some highly rated schools, a lot of parks, coffee shops, a low crime rate, and it’s good for raising a family.
If you are single, you should consider moving to New Haven. New Haven is home to Yale University (One of the best Ivy League Schools) which is why you’ll find the majority of young professionals living here. In addition to this, it’s a lively and vibrant city to live in.
Setting up home services
Setting up essential home services like electricity, water, and internet in Connecticut is a straightforward process.
- The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) is responsible for regulating the rates and quality of services provided by Connecticut’s investor-owned electricity, water, natural gas and telecommunication companies. You can visit their website and compare rates, search for water, electricity, and gas providers and even reach out to them if you have any inquiry.
- The best internet providers in Connecticut will have bundling options, various speeds, and multiple package options at reasonable prices.
Should you rent or buy?
The average Connecticut home value is $381,012, increased by 8% from 2022. Connecticut’s price per square foot to buy an apartment outside the center is $150.00.
Finding an apartment for rent in Connecticut is easy, utilize websites like Zillow, Apartmentguide, and Apartments.com. When seeking a house, these websites—Zillow, Realtor, and Century21—will assist you in your search for a home in Connecticut.
Cost of rent in Connecticut
|
Area/Neighborhood |
1-bed apartment |
3-bed apartment |
|
Bridgeport (Outside of Center) |
$1,200.00 |
$2,010.00 |
Cost of buying a property in Connecticut
|
Area/Neighborhood |
Average home price |
|
Bridgeport |
$381,012 |
Numbeo (Oct 2023) & Zillow (Oct 2023)
Consider getting home insurance
Getting home insurance is essential, whichever state you’re residing in. A home insurance plan is created to cover for any damage caused to your home due to several reasons. The most important one being, damage caused from natural disasters. Two of the most common natural disasters that Connecticut faces are floods and snowstorms. Residents are also at a risk of severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes.
4. Cost of living in Connecticut
|
Category |
Monthly cost |
|
1 bed apt rent outside city center |
$1,200.00 |
|
Groceries Numbeo’s grocery list ($69.38 multiplied by 4) |
$277.52 |
|
Utilities Electricity, heating, cooling, water, garbage |
$279.31 |
|
Internet with 60 Mbps |
$70.00 |
|
Transit pass |
$63.00 |
|
Entertainment Meal, taxi, movie |
$93.25 |
|
Gym membership |
$22.75 |
|
Total |
$2,005.83 |
5. The weather in Connecticut
On average, there are 194 sunny days per year in Connecticut. The highest temperature in Summers is 83° and the Winter low is 37 degrees. Connecticut averages 43 inches of snow per year and 50 inches of rain.
Connecticut experiences all four seasons every year. In fall, you’ll get to experience the mesmerizing foliage and the beautiful scenery. Winter has its own charm, it’s cold and snowy. The warmer months (spring and summers) bring cherry blossoms. Altogether, you get to enjoy the beautiful beaches and lighthouses.
6. What to do as a local in Connecticut
After you are done settling into your new home in Connecticut, you will want to familiarize yourself with the state and all its attractions. Some of the most popular activities and locations in Connecticut include:
Mystic Seaport Museum – It is the largest maritime museum in the US. You can grasp a lot of history, in addition, there is dining and shopping too.
Lake Compounce Amusement Park – This park is the longest-running park in Northern America, consisting of Connecticut’s biggest water park and an amazing wooden roller coaster.
Gillette Castle – This castle was (late) William Gillette’s home, the actor who played Sherlock Holmes for many years. It is now utilized as a state park. There’s a hiking trail present as well.
Some common grocery stores in Connecticut are: The Daily Meal, Whole Foods Market, & Stew Leonard’s.
The two most popular big chain stores are CTown Supermarket and Costco.
Must-visit food places in Connecticut are Great Taste Chinese Restaurant and Ted’s Restaurant.
Visit the popular cities in Connecticut: Hartford, Bridgeport, New Haven and Stamford.
7. Fun facts about Connecticut
- Fun Fact #1: Connecticut is home to the oldest published newspaper in the U.S., the ‘Hartford Courant’.
- Fun Fact #2: Connecticut is home to the first Polaroid camera, helicopter, and color television.
- Fun Fact #3: Connecticut is also known as the Nutmeg State.
Conclusion
Connecticut is conveniently located in the Northeast, making it easy to access major cities like New York City and Boston. Locals can enjoy the amenities of big cities while living in a quieter, more suburban or rural area. The state is also home to several prestigious universities and schools, including Yale University, the University of Connecticut, and Wesleyan University. It’s a great place for students seeking a high-end education.
While moving to Connecticut has its pros and cons, checking the cost of living is essential to making sure you will live comfortably in this city and call it home. It’s a good idea to research specific neighborhoods within the state and consider your priorities to determine if Connecticut is the right fit for you and your family.
Need a trusted moving company for the area? Discover the 5 best movers in Connecticut.
