What it's like to live in New Britain
New Britain is a smaller city in Connecticut with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. New Britain deals with unemployment above the national average, household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, and college degree attainment below the national average.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Above-average unemployment
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Low college degree attainment
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
How New Britain compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to New Britain
Based on New Britain's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,506
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $50,120 a year
- 53% of New Britain renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$44,720
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $22,360
- Homes cost 3.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 11% below US
$1,253/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,253 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $223,600. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $223,600 · 53% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 28% above US
5.5% unemployment
Unemployment here is 5.5%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 29% above US
424 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 1703/100k · New Britain Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 17% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.5 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 8% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 82°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 23°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 2.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 46% below US
20% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a working-class city, and college degree rates reflect that. Trades, manufacturing, and service industries tend to dominate the local economy, which is a strength for some fields and a real constraint for others.
Schools
16 public schools inside the boundary
There are 16 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Springfield Armory National Historic Site (32 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
New Britain's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are unemployment above the national average and household incomes below the national average. A year of median rent ($1,253/mo) equals 26% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone moving without a job lined up.
Other places near New Britain
All Connecticut guides →Moving to Newington →
4 mi away · pop. 30,896
Rent $1,524/mo · Income $102,884
Compare with New Britain →Moving to West Hartford →
6 mi away · pop. 63,620
Rent $1,756/mo · Income $129,890
Compare with New Britain →Moving to Wethersfield →
7 mi away · pop. 27,250
Rent $1,370/mo · Income $126,806
Compare with New Britain →Not sure New Britain is the one?
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