What it's like to live in New London
New London is a small city in Connecticut with home prices that remain within reach, crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and air quality that stays clean most of the year. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. New London deals with household incomes below the national average, a poverty rate above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and cold winters.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How New London compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to New London
Based on New London's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,680
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $53,600 a year
- 51% of New London renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$50,660
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $25,330
- Homes cost 4.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,340/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,340 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $253,300. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $253,300 · 51% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.7% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.7%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 33% below US
222 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1299/100k · New London Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 26% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19.2 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 78°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 26°F and snow a regular occurrence.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 21% below US
29% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 29%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
10 public schools inside the boundary
There are 10 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11:1, 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 Touro Synagogue National Historic Site (42 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
New London's strongest points are home prices that remain within reach and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and a poverty rate above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,340/mo) equals 27% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime and people who want short commutes.
Other places near New London
All Connecticut guides →Moving to Willimantic →
27 mi away · pop. 18,096
Rent $1,063/mo · Income $45,962
Compare with New London →Moving to Middletown →
33 mi away · pop. 47,958
Rent $1,446/mo · Income $79,438
Compare with New London →Not sure New London is the one?
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