Hartford & New Haven CT Metro 55+ Active Adult Retirement Communities

The Hartford-New Haven area offers many features and amenities that will appeal to 55+ active adults looking for east coast retirement communities. New Haven’s location on Long Island Sound allows for easy access to beaches and boating opportunities. Hartford’s central location allows for easy day trips to beaches, state parks with beautiful fall foliage, and New York City entertainment. New Haven is home to Yale University and its many historical and cultural sites.

Cost of Living

The median income for Hartford is $29,313 and Hartford has a lower cost of living than New Haven. Hartford’s cost of living is 6.7 percent lower than the rest of the country. Grocery, healthcare, utilities and transportation are more expensive than the U.S. average. Housing costs are quite a bit cheaper than both the national and state averages.

New Haven’s median income is $37,058 and its cost of living is 5.5 percent higher than the national average but lower than state averages. Healthcare, utilities and transportation costs are the main reason for the higher cost of living. Housing is actually lower than both the U.S. and the rest of Connecticut. 

55+ communities are mostly found in neighborhoods and small towns outside of either Hartford or New Haven. Average prices for communities in the Hartford-New Haven area range from low $100s to low $800s. 

Connecticut has a state income tax that ranges from 3 to 7 percent depending on income and filing status. The state has recently changed their tax code so that pensions and annuities are not taxable for most seniors and soon distributions from IRAs will follow the same rules. Social Security is currently although that will be phased out by 2026. Connecticut has high property taxes although there are some credits for lower income seniors. 

Climate and Geography

The Hartford-New Haven area has a varied climate depending on location. New Haven’s weather is greatly influenced by Long Island Sound but still tends to have summers that are hot and humid and winters are cold. Hartford tends to have the same range in temperature but winters are much snowier than New Haven and other coastal towns. 

Hartford is bordered by several smaller towns and suburbs including East Hartford. The Connecticut River in the east is the boundary between Hartford proper and East Hartford. New Haven has several interesting geographical areas including the harbor, multiple rivers and two large rock ridges to the northeast and northwest of the city. The basalt ridges contain large parks with hiking trails and outdoor recreational options.

Recreation, Culture and Entertainment

Golf enthusiasts will find a variety of courses in the area. Gillette Ridge Golf Club, Hartford Golf Club, and Keney Park Golf Course are within five miles of Hartford. There is only one course within five miles of New Haven’s city limits but multiple courses are available in the surrounding areas.

Active adults who enjoy hiking, camping and watersports have several parks to choose from including Penwood State Park, Natchaug State Forest, Gillette Castle State Park, and many public beaches along the Long Island Sound shoreline near New Haven. Fans of skiing and other winter sports will want to check out Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort or Ski Sundown. Gardeners may enjoy seeing Bushnell Park Conservancy, Butler-McCook House & Garden, Wickham Park, and Marsh Botanical Garden.

There are many historical sites and museums in the area, most based on the area’s importance as one of the original 13 colonies. Some of the most popular include The Connecticut Freedom Trail, Eli Whitney Museum & Workshop, New England Air Museum, New England Civil War Museum, and more.

Art museums and performing arts are well represented by TheaterWorks Hartford, Lyme Art Association, Yale University Art Gallery, The Bushnell Performing Arts Center, Element Center for the Performing Arts, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, and more.

Family friendly attractions include the Connecticut Science Center, Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, Boulder Dash Amusement Park, Pez Visitor Center, and the Leitner Family Observatory and Planetarium.

Healthcare

The top hospitals in the Hartford-New Haven metro area are Yale New Haven Hospital, Hartford Hospital and St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford. Yale New Haven Hospital is the largest hospital in the area with 1,541 beds and is the primary teaching hospital for the Yale School of Medicine. Yale New Haven Hospital and Hartford Hospital are designated Level I trauma centers and St. Francis Hospital is a Level III trauma center.