Special Report

This is the Worst City to Live in Connecticut

Samuel Stebbins

Published: May 25, 2021 7:00 am

The COVID-19 pandemic was a public health crisis that sent shockwaves through the U.S. economy — and the country’s social fabric. In addition to claiming over half a million American lives, the pandemic sent unemployment soaring and exacerbated existing problems, as drug overdoses and crime rates spiked in some parts of the country.

Even before the pandemic, however, there were cities and towns already grappling with severe social and economic distress. These communities have long struggled with challenges such as high unemployment, poverty, crime, drug misuse, and limited access to essential services.

Based on a weighted index of two-dozen social and economic measures, 24/7 Wall St. identified the worst place to live in every state. We considered cities, towns, villages, and census designated places home to at least 8,000 people.

Hartford, Connecticut’s state capital, also ranks as the worst place to live in the state. There were 858 violent crimes for every 100,000 people in Hartford in 2019, making it the most dangerous city in the state and one of the most dangerous in the country. For context, there were 367 violent crimes for every 100,000 people nationwide the same year.

High crime rates can make an area less attractive for businesses and hamper economic growth and job creation — and many in Hartford are out of work. Over the last five years, an average of 12% of the local labor force have been unemployed, double the 6% state unemployment rate over that time. High crime and limited opportunities may be pushing people out of Hartford. Over the last five years, the city’s population contracted by 1.7%.

Our index is composed of data across four categories: affordability, economy, quality of life, and community. Data is all for the most recent year available and came from the U.S. Census Bureau, the FBI, The Department of Agriculture, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other sources. This is the worst city to live in every state.