Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

- Population: 29,424
- Median home value: $229,600
- Median rental price: $1,423

- Top schools nearby: Poquonock Elementary School (grade A), Oliver Ellsworth School (grade A), Academy of Aerospace & Engineering (grade A−)
- Top private schools nearby: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Suffield Academy (grade A+), Miss Porter's School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A−
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: unavailable

#16. Windsor, Connecticut

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- Population: 6,417
- Median home value: $256,000
- Median rental price: $1,192

- Top schools nearby: Haddam-Killingworth Intermediate School (grade A−), Moser School (grade A−), Portland High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools nearby: Xavier High School (grade A), Mercy High School (grade A), Emmanuel Christian Academy (grade A−)

- Overall Niche grade: A−
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

#15. Portland, Connecticut

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- Population: 14,252
- Median home value: $249,300
- Median rental price: $1,219

- Top schools nearby: Haddam-Killingworth Intermediate School (grade A−), Moser School (grade A−), Cromwell High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools nearby: Choate Rosemary Hall (grade A+), The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Miss Porter's School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A−
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: unavailable

#14. Cromwell, Connecticut

YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV // Shutterstock

- Population: 5,148
- Median home value: $289,200
- Median rental price: $1,089

- Top schools nearby: Allgrove School (grade A), Academy of Aerospace & Engineering (grade A−), Tariffville School (grade A−)
- Top private schools nearby: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Suffield Academy (grade A+), Westminster School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A−
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B
--- Outdoor activities grade: unavailable

#13. East Granby, Connecticut

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- Population: 20,682
- Median home value: $275,600
- Median rental price: $1,579

- Top schools nearby: West Hill School (grade A), Rocky Hill High School (grade A), Academy of Aerospace & Engineering (grade A−)
- Top private schools nearby: Choate Rosemary Hall (grade A+), The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Miss Porter's School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: C+
--- Outdoor activities grade: unavailable

#12. Rocky Hill, Connecticut

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- Population: 30,458
- Median home value: $266,200
- Median rental price: $1,401

- Top schools nearby: Webster Hill School (grade A), Academy of Aerospace & Engineering (grade A−), Moser School (grade A−)
- Top private schools nearby: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Miss Porter's School (grade A+), Avon Old Farms School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

#11. Newington, Connecticut

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- Population: 3,750
- Median home value: $367,400
- Median rental price: $1,530

- Top schools nearby: Canton High School (grade A), Canton Intermediate School (grade A−), Cherry Brook Primary School (grade A−)
- Top private schools nearby: Miss Porter's School (grade A+), Avon Old Farms School (grade A+), Westminster School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: C
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

#10. Collinsville, Connecticut

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- Population: 27,192
- Median home value: $286,000
- Median rental price: $1,244

- Top schools nearby: Glastonbury High School (grade A+), Buttonball Lane School (grade A), Hopewell School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Miss Porter's School (grade A+), Kingswood Oxford School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

#9. Wethersfield, Connecticut

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- Population: 2,796
- Median home value: $457,700
- Median rental price: $2,176

- Top schools nearby: Simsbury High School (grade A), Henry James Memorial School (grade A), Central School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: Miss Porter's School (grade A+), Avon Old Farms School (grade A+), Westminster School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: C+
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

#8. West Simsbury, Connecticut

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- Population: 26,719
- Median home value: $291,400
- Median rental price: $1,595

- Top schools nearby: Pleasant Valley School (grade A), Orchard Hill School (grade A), Philip R. Smith School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Suffield Academy (grade A+), Kingswood Oxford School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: unavailable

#7. South Windsor, Connecticut

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- Population: 26,559
- Median home value: $339,200
- Median rental price: $1,567

- Top schools nearby: Farmington High School (grade A+), East Farms School (grade A), West Woods Upper Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Miss Porter's School (grade A+), Avon Old Farms School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: C+
--- Outdoor activities grade: unavailable

#6. Farmington, Connecticut

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- Population: 35,061
- Median home value: $355,500
- Median rental price: $1,524

- Top schools nearby: Glastonbury High School (grade A+), Buttonball Lane School (grade A), Hopewell School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Miss Porter's School (grade A+), Kingswood Oxford School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: C+
--- Outdoor activities grade: unavailable

#5. Glastonbury, Connecticut

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- Population: 24,467
- Median home value: $352,800
- Median rental price: $1,632

- Top schools nearby: Simsbury High School (grade A), Henry James Memorial School (grade A), Latimer Lane School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Suffield Academy (grade A+), Miss Porter's School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: C+
--- Outdoor activities grade: unavailable

#4. Simsbury, Connecticut

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- Population: 18,821
- Median home value: $383,800
- Median rental price: $1,485

- Top schools nearby: Avon High School (grade A+), Avon Middle School (grade A), Roaring Brook School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: Miss Porter's School (grade A+), Avon Old Farms School (grade A+), Kingswood Oxford School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: C+
--- Outdoor activities grade: unavailable

#3. Avon, Connecticut

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- Population: 7,959
- Median home value: $360,900
- Median rental price: $1,657

- Top schools nearby: Glastonbury High School (grade A+), Buttonball Lane School (grade A), Hopewell School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Miss Porter's School (grade A+), Kingswood Oxford School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: C+
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

#2. Glastonbury Center, Connecticut

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- Population: 2,671
- Median home value: $367,700
- Median rental price: $1,953

- Top schools nearby: Simsbury High School (grade A), Henry James Memorial School (grade A), Latimer Lane School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: The Loomis Chaffee School (grade A+), Miss Porter's School (grade A+), Avon Old Farms School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 67 metros.

#1. Weatogue, Connecticut