New London, #1 on this list · Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0

Connecticut rankings · History

Most historic towns in Connecticut

Q: What is the most historic town in Connecticut?

New London (New London County) ranks first on history among 155 towns, with an A+; Sharon and New Haven follow.

New London ranks first on history among Connecticut’s 155 towns of 2,500+; 105 of the 155 grade A− or better on history nationally.

The History grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the town’s founding era, homes built before 1940 (Census ACS) and its National Register places. How grades work

New London

New London County · 28,003 people

A⁺

History grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall D · #144 of 151 in CT

Sharon

2,783 people

A⁺

History grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall C · #125 of 151 in CT

New Haven

New Haven County · 138,774 people

A⁺

History grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall D⁻ · #148 of 151 in CT

All 155 towns

History grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank; the overall grade and state rank are beside each.

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#TownGradeOverall

1New LondonNew London County · 28,003 peopleA⁺among the top in the U.S.·Overall D · #144 of 151

2Sharon2,783 peopleA⁺among the top in the U.S.·Overall C · #125 of 151

3New HavenNew Haven County · 138,774 peopleA⁺among the top in the U.S.·Overall D⁻ · #148 of 151

4NorwichNew London County · 40,001 peopleA⁺among the top in the U.S.·Overall D · #145 of 151

5HartfordHartford County · 121,981 peopleA⁺among the top in the U.S.·Overall D⁻ · #151 of 151

6Windham24,139 peopleA⁺among the top in the U.S.·Overall D · #141 of 151

7Stonington18,832 peopleA⁺among the top in the U.S.·Overall A⁻ · #47 of 151

8Litchfield8,381 peopleA⁺among the top in the U.S.·No overall grade

9Plainfield15,381 peopleA⁺among the top in the U.S.·Overall B⁻ · #103 of 151

10Salisbury4,290 peopleA⁺better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #77 of 151

11Wethersfield27,291 peopleA⁺better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁺ · #57 of 151

12Pomfret4,378 peopleA⁺better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁺ · #69 of 151

13Branford28,724 peopleA⁺better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #90 of 151

14WaterburyNew Haven County · 115,771 peopleA⁺better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall D⁻ · #150 of 151

15Manchester59,773 peopleA⁺better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #127 of 151

16New Hartford6,748 peopleA⁺better than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁺ · #60 of 151

17Stafford11,721 peopleAbetter than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall C⁺ · #107 of 151

18TorringtonLitchfield County · 35,796 peopleAbetter than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall C⁻ · #134 of 151

19Thompson9,566 peopleAbetter than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #123 of 151

20Essex6,819 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁻ · #27 of 151

21Greenwich64,801 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #17 of 151

22Winchester10,360 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁻ · #93 of 151

23Kent3,101 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #23 of 151

24GrotonNew London County · 10,160 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall C⁺ · #120 of 151

25Groton39,138 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁻ · #97 of 151

26Killingly18,177 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #138 of 151

27Redding8,847 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁺ · #4 of 151

28MiddletownMiddlesex County · 48,439 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall C⁺ · #115 of 151

29BridgeportFairfield County · 152,273 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall D⁻ · #146 of 151

30Woodbury10,005 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁻ · #102 of 151

31Washington3,733 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁺ · #58 of 151

32Haddam8,947 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁺ · #62 of 151

33East Haddam9,043 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁻ · #49 of 151

34NorwalkFairfield County · 94,508 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall C⁺ · #109 of 151

35Guilford22,322 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁻ · #40 of 151

36Old Saybrook10,680 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁻ · #51 of 151

37Westbrook6,918 peopleAbetter than 91% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁻ · #39 of 151

38Coventry12,446 peopleAbetter than 91% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #15 of 151

39Stratford53,908 peopleAbetter than 91% of U.S. towns·Overall C⁺ · #116 of 151

40East Hampton13,134 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁻ · #41 of 151

41Preston4,873 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall C⁺ · #114 of 151

42Goshen3,298 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·No overall grade

43New BritainHartford County · 76,286 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall D⁻ · #149 of 151

44Suffield16,046 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁻ · #37 of 151

45Canton10,304 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁻ · #24 of 151

46Enfield41,142 peopleAbetter than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall C⁺ · #118 of 151

47NaugatuckNew Haven County · 32,230 peopleAbetter than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall C⁺ · #111 of 151

48Fairfield66,262 peopleAbetter than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁻ · #38 of 151

49Andover3,173 peopleAbetter than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁻ · #43 of 151

50Canterbury5,251 peopleAbetter than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #88 of 151

51South Windsor27,036 peopleAbetter than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁻ · #34 of 151

52Ridgefield25,373 peopleAbetter than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁺ · #2 of 151

53StamfordFairfield County · 139,535 peopleAbetter than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall C⁺ · #119 of 151

54Harwinton5,751 peopleAbetter than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁻ · #42 of 151

55Westport28,301 peopleAbetter than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #14 of 151

56Vernon30,842 peopleAbetter than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁻ · #100 of 151

57Lebanon7,142 peopleAbetter than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁻ · #98 of 151

58Plymouth11,902 peopleAbetter than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #85 of 151

59North Canaan3,231 peopleAbetter than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #122 of 151

60Clinton13,439 peopleAbetter than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #83 of 151

61Willington5,601 peopleAbetter than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall C⁺ · #112 of 151

62Milford53,606 peopleAbetter than 87% of U.S. towns·No overall grade

63Waterford20,435 peopleAbetter than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #92 of 151

64Sprague2,954 peopleAbetter than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall C⁻ · #131 of 151

65Windsor29,879 peopleAbetter than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall C⁺ · #108 of 151

66Mansfield College campus29,062 peopleAbetter than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall A

67Newtown28,183 peopleAbetter than 86% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁺ · #61 of 151

68New Canaan21,208 peopleAbetter than 86% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁺ · #7 of 151

69West Hartford64,242 peopleAbetter than 86% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #80 of 151

70DanielsonWindham County · 4,265 peopleAbetter than 85% of U.S. towns·Overall D⁻ · #147 of 151

71Barkhamsted3,726 peopleAbetter than 85% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁻ · #50 of 151

72Brooklyn8,748 peopleAbetter than 85% of U.S. towns·Overall C⁺ · #117 of 151

73New Milford28,941 peopleA⁻better than 85% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #89 of 151

74Glastonbury35,503 peopleA⁻better than 85% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #20 of 151

75Woodstock8,474 peopleA⁻better than 85% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁻ · #99 of 151

76Granby11,963 peopleA⁻better than 85% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #16 of 151

77Simsbury25,582 peopleA⁻better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #21 of 151

78BristolHartford County · 62,341 peopleA⁻better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #124 of 151

79Bethlehem3,455 peopleA⁻better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁺ · #74 of 151

80Wallingford44,406 peopleA⁻better than 83% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁺ · #53 of 151

81North Stonington5,242 peopleA⁻better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁻ · #28 of 151

82Portland9,449 peopleA⁻better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁻ · #26 of 151

83East Windsor11,342 peopleA⁻better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall C⁺ · #121 of 151

84Deep River4,468 peopleA⁻better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁻ · #33 of 151

85DanburyFairfield County · 89,033 peopleA⁻better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall C⁻ · #135 of 151

86East Granby5,432 peopleA⁻better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁻ · #25 of 151

87AnsoniaNew Haven County · 19,216 peopleA⁻better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall C⁻ · #137 of 151

88Colchester15,825 peopleA⁻better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁺ · #73 of 151

89Farmington28,632 peopleA⁻better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁻ · #29 of 151

90Chester3,726 peopleA⁻better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #86 of 151

91Darien22,583 peopleA⁻better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #11 of 151

92Jewett CityNew London County · 3,456 peopleA⁻better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #139 of 151

93Middlebury8,093 peopleA⁻better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #10 of 151

94Sterling3,736 peopleA⁻better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #143 of 151

95East Haven27,925 peopleA⁻better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall C⁻ · #130 of 151

96MeridenNew Haven County · 60,810 peopleA⁻better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #140 of 151

97Southington44,242 peopleA⁻better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁺ · #65 of 151

98Sherman3,618 peopleA⁻better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁺ · #68 of 151

99Watertown22,526 peopleA⁻better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁺ · #75 of 151

100Somers10,938 peopleA⁻better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁺ · #64 of 151

101East Hartford50,968 peopleA⁻better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall C⁻ · #136 of 151

102Trumbull38,075 peopleA⁻better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁺ · #66 of 151

103Bolton4,875 peopleA⁻better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #22 of 151

104Cheshire30,983 peopleA⁻better than 75% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁺ · #6 of 151

105Windsor Locks12,617 peopleA⁻better than 75% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁻ · #94 of 151

106Southbury20,468 peopleB⁺better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁻ · #96 of 151

107Weston10,517 peopleB⁺better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁺ · #8 of 151

108Columbia5,352 peopleB⁺better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #78 of 151

109Wilton19,435 peopleB⁺better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁺ · #3 of 151

110Hebron9,256 peopleB⁺better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁻ · #44 of 151

111Rocky Hill21,575 peopleB⁺better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁻ · #35 of 151

112Berlin20,698 peopleB⁺better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁺ · #72 of 151

113Easton7,838 peopleB⁺better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁺ · #5 of 151

114Oxford13,311 peopleB⁺better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #82 of 151

115North Branford13,551 peopleB⁺better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #76 of 151

116Ashford4,265 peopleB⁺better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall C⁺ · #113 of 151

117Voluntown2,653 peopleB⁺better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall C⁺ · #110 of 151

118Plainville17,746 peopleB⁺better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #87 of 151

119Putnam9,402 peopleB⁺better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #126 of 151

120New Fairfield13,674 peopleB⁺better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁺ · #63 of 151

121Durham7,209 peopleB⁺better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁻ · #48 of 151

122Tolland14,752 peopleB⁺better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁺ · #56 of 151

123Hamden61,824 peopleB⁺better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall C⁻ · #133 of 151

124Woodbridge9,160 peopleB⁺better than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #18 of 151

125North Haven24,799 peopleB⁺better than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #84 of 151

126Ledyard15,601 peopleBbetter than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁺ · #67 of 151

127Killingworth6,288 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁻ · #52 of 151

128Salem4,324 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁻ · #36 of 151

129Monroe19,341 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁺ · #1 of 151

130Griswold11,690 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #129 of 151

131DerbyNew Haven County · 12,925 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #142 of 151

132Bethel21,682 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁻ · #31 of 151

133Ellington16,594 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁺ · #59 of 151

134Orange14,416 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #91 of 151

135Old Lyme7,702 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #12 of 151

136East Lyme19,223 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁻ · #32 of 151

137Cromwell14,350 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #79 of 151

138Montville18,001 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁻ · #105 of 151

139Newington31,647 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁻ · #95 of 151

140Burlington9,874 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁺ · #55 of 151

141Prospect9,638 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁺ · #70 of 151

142Madison17,734 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #9 of 151

143West HavenNew Haven County · 55,351 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall C⁻ · #132 of 151

144Middlefield4,276 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁻ · #106 of 151

145Brookfield18,566 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁻ · #45 of 151

146Wolcott16,573 peopleB⁻better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁻ · #46 of 151

147Thomaston7,572 peopleB⁻better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall A⁻ · #30 of 151

148Bloomfield22,267 peopleB⁻better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #128 of 151

149Lisbon4,260 peopleB⁻better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁻ · #104 of 151

150Marlborough6,213 peopleB⁻better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁺ · #54 of 151

151SheltonFairfield County · 42,880 peopleB⁻better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁺ · #71 of 151

152Seymour17,153 peopleB⁻better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #81 of 151

153Beacon Falls6,307 peopleC⁺better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall B⁻ · #101 of 151

154Bethany5,339 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #13 of 151

155Avon19,096 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #19 of 151

Quick answers

Questions people ask

What is the most historic town in Connecticut?

New London (New London County) ranks first on history among 155 towns, with an A+; Sharon and New Haven follow.

How are these towns ranked?

The History grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the town’s founding era, homes built before 1940 (Census ACS) and its National Register places. Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.

Why isn’t my town on this list?

The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a history grade (155 in Connecticut). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Connecticut page.

Go deeper

More Connecticut lists

Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.

All Connecticut rankings →

Best places to live151 towns · #1 Monroe Best small towns54 towns · #1 Redding Most affordable towns155 towns · #1 Canterbury Safest towns90 towns · #1 Weston Towns with the best schools152 towns · #1 New Canaan Healthiest towns154 towns · #1 Darien Best towns for jobs & income155 towns · #1 Bethany Most walkable towns155 towns · #1 New Haven Towns with the lowest natural-hazard risk155 towns · #1 Hebron Best towns for the outdoors155 towns · #1 Glastonbury Towns with the most civic life155 towns · #1 Salisbury Towns with the least snow149 towns · #1 East LymeDescribed, no letters Snowiest towns149 towns · #1 GoshenDescribed, no letters Towns with the mildest winters155 towns · #1 Darien and StamfordDescribed, no letters Towns with the hottest summers155 towns · #1 Windsor LocksDescribed, no letters Towns with the coolest summers155 towns · #1 GoshenDescribed, no letters Towns with the highest incomes155 towns · #1 Darien and 3 moreDescribed, no letters Towns with the lowest property taxes142 towns · #1 Windsor LocksDescribed, no letters Fastest-growing towns155 towns · #1 GranbyDescribed, no letters Towns with the most-used libraries123 towns · #1 New CanaanDescribed, no letters

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