Portland, CT


0 Reviews



Download our custom City Report to see exclusive
data on cost of living, crime, climate, and more.
Portland, CT

About Portland, CT

Living in Portland, CT can be a great experience. Located just off of the Connecticut River, it is an ideal place to live for those who enjoy outdoor activities such as kayaking, fishing, and hiking. The town itself offers a variety of restaurants, markets, and shops to explore. Although Portland is a small town with a population of only 8,500 people, there are plenty of things to do in the area all year round. Whether you're looking for some leisure time or trying to find something more competitive like a local sporting event or music festival, Portland has something to offer everyone. With its close proximity to bigger cities such as Hartford and New Haven, it's easy to get away for the day and come back with plenty of exciting stories from your travels. Capital city - North-central Connecticut along the Connecticut River, 40 miles from the Long Island Sound.

Zip Codes: 06480
Cost of Living:
Time zone: Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Elevation: 179 ft above sea level

As a state capital and center for the insurance industry, Hartford has a long and colorful history as a colonial center and prosperous industrial-era city. The first insurance company was established here in the late 1700’s, and The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company, established in 1866, charted the course for industrial safety. Today Hartford is home to 35 insurance companies, including AETNA and The Hartford, which provide stable employment. The area is also headquarters to conglomerate United Technologies but most manufacturing has disappeared from the Hartford landscape and it has become a center for “knowledge” industries.

By the 1870’s, Hartford was home to many of the country’s leading philanthropists and literary figures, including Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe. The old city center is located on the Connecticut River with a modern downtown sprinkled with older historic buildings and nicer suburbs spreading into the wooded areas in the west. Areas north are commercial and somewhat run down while ethnic neighborhoods spread south.

East Hartford, across the Connecticut River, is headquarters to Pratt & Whitney and has more of a blue-collar feel, but is currently developing a large downtown commercial/retail/hospitality center along the waterfront. West Hartford is a more upscale residential area. The philanthropic heritage leaves Hartford well stocked with museums, activities, and special events. The area’s ethnic, economic and educational diversity are noteworthy.

Hartford is located in the broad Connecticut River Valley with low north-south mountain ranges on both sides of the city. The climate is New England continental. Prevailing winds bring most weather systems into the area from the west. In winter, Hartford receives polar air masses from the north and moist, tropical air from the south, resulting in variable weather and strong winter storms. Cold air trapped in the river valley can produce freezing rain and ice storms. In summer, the climate is usually warm and pleasant with occasional thunderstorms. First freeze is early October, last is late April.

Buying or selling a home?
Find top real estate agents in Portland.

Portland Cost of Living

Stable economy, arts and culture, and cultural diversity make Portland a great place to live.

$316,300
-6.9% lower than avg
$107,034
35.5% lower than avg
9.1 / 5.1
Comfort Index
summer/winter
Portland Crime
17.9 / 100
Crime is ranked on a scale of 1 (low) to 100 (high). US average: 35.4
Minimum annual income
To live comfortably in Portland, Connecticut
$60,480
for a family
$44,800
for a single person
Pros & Cons of Portland
   Stable economy
Low job growth
   Arts and culture
Cost of living
   Cultural diversity
Harsh winters
Cost of Living