Rent rising fastest in Connecticut

Cities in Connecticut with the largest year-over-year rent increases. Cities with 15,000+ residents. Updated monthly.

Key findings

East Hartford ranks first, with +11.9% over the past year.
Across all 24 cities on this list, the median rent is $1,962/mo.
Ansonia moved from #22 to #3 compared with a year ago.

Data as of September 2026. Change in Zillow's rent index over the past 12 months. Rank a year ago uses the change over the 12 months before that. Updated monthly. Download this list (CSV)

Best value (RRS)Overheated (RRS)Most affordable Most expensive Rent falling Rent rising Best rent/income Most rent-burdened Record-high rent Seasonal swings Rent vs. income

24 cities

Rank	City	1-yr change	Median rent	5-yr change	Vs. a year ago
01	East HartfordCT Pop. 51KCompare →	+11.9%	$1,648/mo	--	↑11 from #12
02	NorwichCT Pop. 40KCompare →	+9.6%	$1,832/mo	--	↑6 from #8
03	AnsoniaCT Pop. 19KCompare →	+8.9%	$1,875/mo	--	↑19 from #22
04	New LondonCT Pop. 28KCompare →	+8.7%	$1,700/mo	+42.5%	↑17 from #21
05	BristolCT Pop. 61KCompare →	+7.3%	$1,650/mo	--	↑4 from #9
06	New BritainCT Pop. 74KCompare →	+5.8%	$1,661/mo	+46.0%	↓4 from #2
07	MilfordCT Pop. 51KCompare →	+5.5%	$2,506/mo	+36.0%	↑8 from #15
08	SheltonCT Pop. 42KCompare →	+4.9%	$2,476/mo	--	↓2 from #6
09	TorringtonCT Pop. 36KCompare →	+4.8%	$1,589/mo	--	↓8 from #1
10	MiddletownCT Pop. 48KCompare →	+4.1%	$1,962/mo	+38.6%	↑1 from #11
11	West HartfordCT Pop. 64KCompare →	+3.6%	$2,361/mo	+34.3%	↓4 from #7
12	ManchesterCT Pop. 37KCompare →	+3.5%	$2,065/mo	--	↑11 from #23
13	NorwalkCT Pop. 92KCompare →	+3.1%	$2,730/mo	+22.9%	↑7 from #20
14	HartfordCT Pop. 121KCompare →	+3.0%	$1,555/mo	+39.8%	↑4 from #18
15	StamfordCT Pop. 137KCompare →	+2.6%	$2,971/mo	+22.4%	↑4 from #19
16	NaugatuckCT Pop. 32KCompare →	+2.4%	$1,895/mo	--	↓13 from #3
17	East HavenCT Pop. 28KCompare →	+2.3%	$2,294/mo	--	↓4 from #13
18	MeridenCT Pop. 61KCompare →	+2.2%	$1,873/mo	--	↓4 from #14
19	BridgeportCT Pop. 149KCompare →	+2.2%	$2,020/mo	+38.4%	↓3 from #16
20	New HavenCT Pop. 134KCompare →	+2.1%	$1,972/mo	+32.8%	↓3 from #17
21	WaterburyCT Pop. 115KCompare →	+2.0%	$1,551/mo	+40.0%	↓17 from #4
22	NewingtonCT Pop. 31KCompare →	+1.7%	$2,556/mo	--	--
23	DanburyCT Pop. 87KCompare →	+1.4%	$2,587/mo	+31.3%	↓18 from #5
24	West HavenCT Pop. 55KCompare →	+1.0%	$1,919/mo	+38.7%	↓14 from #10