Livable, Walkable Connecticut Towns

The New Haven Green

360 State Street apartments

The Original Frank Pepe Pizzeria

New Haven

Ready for city life with a college vibe? Then check out New Haven, home to Yale University. Just a short 1½ hour train ride to NYC, New Haven was ranked one of the country’s top 10 most walkable cities. Better yet, it offers all kinds of things worth walking to — from live music to trendy food finds, from museums to a historic town green. Check it out:

Right downtown you’ll find all kinds of trendy apartments with amenities including pools, 24-hour gyms, clubhouses, and more, such as 360 State, a high-rise with amazing city views, round-the-clock concierge service, and an on-site organic grocery store. And Winchester Lofts, where you can enjoy high-end living within a renovated 1870s factory. No wonder three-fourths of New Haven residents rent. Plus, a 5-minute walking commute is not uncommon for those who live downtown.
New Haven pulses with nightlife. Besides all the Yale concerts, you can catch live music at College Street Music Hall, Toad’s Place, Café Nine, and Firehouse, just to name a few.
For a city, New Haven’s still got a ton of parks and green spaces to enjoy a little slice of nature.
New Haven is also home to a diverse array of co-working spaces for makers and innovators, like Collab New Haven, Hub55, The District, MakeHaven, and Health Haven Hub.

Learn more about living, walking, and biking in New Haven

CTfastrak station at Sigourney Street

Hartford Athletic soccer at Dylan Stadium

Trumbull Kitchen

Hartford Yard Goats baseball at Dunkin Donuts Park

Story and Soil Coffee

Downtown Hartford

Hartford

There’s a reason Homes.com ranked Hartford the eighth-best city for Millennials. With top-notch employers, a walkable downtown, exciting events, vibrant nightlife, and more, there’s so much to discover. Check it out: 

Stylish apartments at Hartford 21 are right in the heart of the city. They boast fitness centers with Peloton bikes, valet parking, and bike storage for going carless. Over at Colt Gateway, live in loft-style apartments in a restored factory, above one of the city’s acclaimed breweries, just a block from the city’s soccer stadium.
Build your career: Hartford ranks as the fourth-best-paying locale in the U.S. for Millennials.
Localism leads the way at the city’s multiple farmers’ markets, independent coffee shops, and farm-to-table restaurants.
Bike to seasonal outdoor events, including street festivals, minor-league baseball with the Hartford Yard Goats, salsa dancing on Pratt Street, Jazz in Bushnell Park, and the HartBeat Music Festival. 
Waterfront pedestrian paths allow strolls along the Connecticut River yearround.

Learn more about living, walking, and biking in Hartford

Harbor Point apartments

Alive@Five concert series

Yoga at the pier

Stamford

Have you heard? Stamford is the #1 city in Connecticut to start your career according to Zippia.com. Just an hour outside NYC, Stamford is packed with a ton of top employers — and a ton of ways to have fun. Check it out:

Stamford has very cool apartments with amenities like gourmet kitchens and plunge pools – all in an urban, walkable setting. Allure offers sanctuary with a dog spa and a pool area featuring private cabanas and daybeds. Did we mention you can live on the waterfront too? At Baypointe, stroll the boardwalk with restaurants and shops, and overlook Long Island Sound right from your couch. If you’re looking for more green space and privacy, townhouses like Strawberry Woods offer a quiet, landscaped, wooded setting, just blocks from the vibrant city center.
Thousands of employees work within walking distance of downtown Stamford.
Stamford is also filled with restaurants, shopping, music and theater, events to celebrate the arts, and a nightlife scene that scores an A+.
There are lots of cool and interesting co-working spaces like Food‘NBev Connect, Comradity, Workpoint, and Serendipity Labs. See a complete listing here.
You’ll also be able to hop on a Metro-North train and get in and out of NYC fast, or hop on Amtrak for service to every other major Northeast city.

Learn more about living, walking, and biking in Stamford

Historic South Norwalk

The Berkley at Waypointe apartments

Sono Spaces, The Rail Yard

Norwalk

Work and play all right by the water! Norwalk’s got 70 acres of waterfront parkland and some awesome hot spots to hit the town once the sun goes down. Check it out:

Modern apartments are in easy walking distance from craft breweries, wine bars, top-notch restaurants, the train station, and more. At The Berkeley at Waypointe, grill on the rooftop patio or lounge in the game room with billiards and shuffleboard. Or unwind at The SoNo Pearl (short for South Norwalk) for a relaxing Zen garden and views of Long Island Sound and the harbor.
Norwalk is home to 40 predesigned public walking and biking routes for getting out, getting active, and getting around.
Norwalk is very green — with 1,050 acres of beautiful public parks for leisure activities.
Creative co-working spaces abound, like Fairfield County Makers’ Guild and SoNo Spaces. See a complete listing here.
You’ll find fun food and drink options, shopping, and entertainment for a night on the town in downtown South Norwalk.

Norwich Habor

Yantic Falls

Foundry 66 coworking space

Norwich

For the savers out there, take note: Norwich’s cost of living is 6.5% lower than the U.S. average. But that’s not all there is to love.

There are many apartments within a short distance of public parks, and just minutes from a fun downtown. At Falls Mill, live in a refurbished 1838 textile mill adjacent to the Yantic River. If you want a serene environment, The Villas at Norwich Inn & Spa have a saltwater pool and wood-burning fireplaces.
Don’t miss Mohegan Park, where residents can enjoy the beach, hiking and biking, picnicking and grilling, basketball courts, and more.
Norwich also has 15 miles of waterfront along the Thames River.
There is a lot of access to public transportation, including Southeast Area Transit and Norwich Transportation Center.
Norwich is also home to all kinds of co-working spaces for innovators of all types. See a complete listing here.

The Warner Theatre

Franklin Street multi-use apartment complex

Torrington

Prefer a more suburban feel? Then Torrington’s a good way to go – not to mention it’s ranked #13 for lowest cost of living in the state. Check it out:

Newly renovated Georgetown Gardens and Northside Terraces are charming communities in close proximity to parks.
You’ll find a walkable Main Street with a small-town vibe.
Downtown is a hub for arts and culture where you’ll find The Warner Theater, Artwell Gallery & Community Arts Center and Five Points Gallery.
The town offers access to public transportation like Northwestern Transit District, Dial-A-Ride, and Peter Pan Bus.

West Hartford Center shops

Spaces co-working space

Barcelona

West Hartford

For the perfect blend of small-town and lively city feel, West Hartford is your place. There’s a reason it was ranked as one of Money Magazine’s 100 Best Places to Live in the Nation. In fact, there are lots of reasons…

West Hartford is a triple threat according to Niche.com’s Best Places to Live, ranking #1 for Best Place to Live, Best Suburbs for Young Professionals in Connecticut, and overall Best Suburbs to Live in Connecticut.
In West Hartford, you can be right in the vibrant heart of the walkable downtown at the Lofts at Blue Back Square surrounded by bustling shops, fine dining, and easy-to-navigate nightlife. Or opt for the flats at 24 N Main, featuring a heated outdoor porch open yearround.
There are lots of great places to bike around West Hartford. Here are three suggested routes from Best West Hartford.
West Hartford also offers a variety of co-working spaces like Spaces. See a complete listing here.

Rails-to-Trails bike path

Talcott Mountain Music Festival

Aspen Green apartments

Simsbury

If you’re into bike-friendly towns, come on over! Simsbury will give you a small-town feel in a photo-ready setting. Check it out:

Live nestled in the hills of Simsbury in the townhouses at Aspen Green. Enjoy access to bike lanes, close proximity to public transportation, and plenty of shopping. Or explore Highcroft, where sustainability is a part of the homes and the community lifestyle.
You’ll also like knowing that Simsbury is ranked as one of the 20 safest cities in Connecticut by SafeWise.
Simsbury also rates as a Silver Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) by the League of American Bicyclists — with numerous bike routes and bike clubs and organizations.

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