Branford Falls in CT Magazine Town Ratings

Our idyllic little town might have gotten a little too dangerous to be considered the best of its size in the state. 

According to the November 2011 issue of Connecticut Magazine, Branford ranks as the 10th best town – sliding back from its former number six seat. The number one town of those sized 25,00 to 50,000? Westport, who beat out 25 other towns including Branford.

So how did CT Magazine arrive at this conclusion?

"Rating the Towns,” they state in their article, "is to identify the areas—schools, crime, cost of living, local economy, leisure and cultural opportunities—that most people seem to think most important when they judge the quality of local life."

So how did Branford lose its spot as the number six town to carry its current title of number 10? CT Mag says it's our crime rate, which has gotten worse is to blame.

The ranking system looked at the crime rate as the average number of major crimes in 2007, 2008 and 2009 per population of 1,000. We score a 17.5 out of the 26 towns; Westport locks in at number five.

So where are we shining? Branford scores a five when it comes to economy (measure based on per-capita income, equalized mill rate, adjusted equalized grand list per-capita and aid to children) and a seven when it comes to leisure.

Regardless of the numbers, what do you like best about Branford? Why do you think it is or isn't the best town to live in? 

Connecticut Magazine Rates Branford

Population: 28,026
Crime rate: 5.97
SAT score: 1565
Median house: $271,700
Equalized mill rate: 12.65
Library per capita: $51.55
PIC points: 127
Voter turnout: 77.53%

You can view towns of other populations from Connecticut Magazine.