What to Know About Living in New London, CT

Living in New London, CT, opens the door to some incredible perks. This city on the Connecticut coast packs in big-city advantages like a diverse restaurant scene, but it’s still small-town enough that the wait staff knows your name and favorite dish. A day wandering New London’s downtown or chilling in one of the waterfront parks is one well spent. And the best part of its small-town culture? You’re part of a tight-knit community where everyone knows everyone.

Come get to know New London. It could be the right fit for your next home if you’re into charming New England neighborhoods, fresh local seafood, and soaking up that coastal breeze.

About New London

Find New London midway along waterfront Connecticut at the mouth of the Thames River. As the name hints, this beautiful town has an early founding, with historic sites dating to the American Revolution.

The town you see today technically is not the oldest established here; Benedict Arnold burned down much of the early English Settlement during the war. Still, New London rebuilt and thrived through the ages. You’ll see this evidence in the town’s colonial architecture and multiple historic monument plaques.

For a time, much of the local industry revolved around whaling. New London was the world’s second-largest whaling port in the 1800s. Whale Oil Row in downtown still stands as a testament to this 19th-century period in town history.

New London maintained its maritime ties even as the whaling industry waned. Its deep water harbor makes it an attractive port for commercial reasons. Shipbuilding remained strong and is still present, bolstered by US Naval operations. This is where the nation built its first nuclear-powered submarine. Water taxis still crisscross the Thames River, running hourly to Connecticut and New York locations.

Even though it’s one of the smallest towns in Connecticut, it doubles down on a high quality of life. Between the waterfront views, outdoor dining restaurants, college town vibes, and friendly town atmosphere, there’s a lot to love about living in New London.

Weather

Experience a dose of all four seasons living in New London. Warm and humid summers encourage locals to enjoy the waterside. But the average summertime temperatures rarely go over 87F, so it’s warm without being scorching hot. 

After pleasant fall days, New London does deliver cold winters. January has an average high of 38F and a low of 24F. Snowfall averages seven inches in that month and about 25 inches for the year. 

Job Market

Historically, New London’s economy has been closely tied to maritime activities, primarily shipbuilding, whaling, and fishing. Today, General Dynamics Electric Boats builds boats for the US Navy. The well-established company is one of the town’s largest employers. Thames Shipyard is one of the largest drydocks for commercial ship repair. The town also has a Naval Submarine Base, part of a long history of military installations based out of New London.

Investment in maritime trades continues as New London builds a new pier. The upgrade should reposition its port as a global commerce hub. The port is angling to service the nation’s first offshore wind farm hub. This will include shipping wind turbines to sites offshore.

Clearly, maritime industries still play a role, but the city’s economy has diversified. Sectors such as healthcare, education, and tourism contribute to its vitality. Yale New Haven Health employs around 13,000 people in and around New London. Other top employers by size are the US Coast Guard, Connecticut College, Sheffield Pharmaceuticals, and the Day Publishing Company. These highlight how New London’s jobs have branched out from maritime work.

Cost of Living

Living costs in New London are 7% over the national average but 5% less than the Connecticut average despite being waterfront. Housing prices are a primary reason why New London residents’ budgets are better than the state average. The median home price in 2023 ran about 25% less than what you’d pay in the United States. Transportation costs also fall under the national average. If you live downtown, you’ll save here as the historic district in New London is easily walkable.

Getting Around

New London is well-connected by land and sea. Interstate 95 passes through the city, linking it to Providence, Rhode Island, and New Haven, Connecticut. 

An Amtrak train station makes passenger travel convenient. The Northeast Corridor is one of the busiest railways in the United States. The trains operating from Union Station run lines to Boston, New York, and Washington, DC.

The Cross Sound Ferry provides ferry service between New London and Long Island, New York. Ferry service does run year-round to destinations like the offshore Fishers Island. Water taxis run local service to downtown New London, Groton, and Fort Trumbull.

Living downtown has the best access walkability, especially around the old town area near Bank and State Streets.

New London Education

For such a small town by geography, the town packs in some prime educational institutions. Forbes ranked Connecticut College among the nation’s top 100 liberal arts colleges. It enrolls around 2,000 undergraduates for a four-year liberal arts education. Students pursue studies in fields such as psychology, biology, computer information science, human development, and English literature. 

Mitchell College is another local, private liberal arts college with a smaller enrollment than Connecticut College. Its 14 NCAA DIII sports programs include sailing.

The United States Coast Guard Academy is a highly selective school where cadets specialize in one of nine majors. All graduates earn commissions with the United States Coast Guard and Bachelor of Science degrees.

New London is transitioning to become an all-magnet public school district open to students from all over the state. Its magnet schools will include a science and technology high school, an arts school, and an international school. Two schools have expanded learning time (ELT), a program with experimental workshops and classes led by community leaders. As of 2024, three schools only serve New London-based students. The rest are open enrollment.

Top Things to Do in New London

New London’s connection to its natural surroundings is unmissable. The Thames River meets the Broad Island Sound and, beyond it, the wide Atlantic, forming the waterfront on two sides. 

The revitalized downtown is a place to live, work, and play, thanks to its mix of nightclubs, taverns, retailers, and museums. The New London Waterfront Park is a popular walking spot for viewing the ferries heading across the Sound.

Locals can access the Thames River and Sound waterfront on their private boats or rent from marinas. On any given day, catch sailboats with jigs full crisscrossing the waters and playing in the surf. Crafts of all sizes and shapes bring waterfront fun to New London. Boats can moor at the Waterfront Park, which has pump-out and trash services for larger vessels. 

Historic Sites

Fort Trumbull’s history goes back to the American Revolution when it tried to defend the town from the traitor Benedict Arnold. It later trained troops during the Civil War, housed the first US Coast Guard Academy, and served as the Naval Underwater Sound Laboratory. This vital center led to the development of sonar systems for US Navy submarines. Today, you can tour Fort Trumbull State Park, with the grounds open until sunset.

The park is one of the historical landmarks that line the riverfront. The Thames River Heritage Park highlights vital points in New London, Groton, and other nearby islands. They include sites like the Nathan Hale Schoolhouse, Hempsted House, and the Shaw Mansion.

Arts Scene

New London carries the Connecticut Cultural District distinction, an award recognizing its commitment to the creative. The expansive Garde Arts Center is at the core of the arts scene. It’s a collection of arts buildings spanning a whole block. The GardeTheater is the crown jewel. Built during the early motion picture and vaudeville heydays, the theater’s 1,420 seats pack in the crowds. In the more modern area, names like Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan have graced its Moroccan-inspired stage.

Hygienic Art is another star of the local cultural scene. The rebuilt center now houses arts of all types, from live music to gallery exhibitions. It has an artist cooperative and an outdoor art park. The annual art show sets a high bar for creative free expression–it has no judge, jury, fees, or censorship. 

More classic artworks are viewable at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum. The collection contains 17,000 and counting works from ancient times to modern. Exhibitions have permanent galleries for American, European, and Asian arts. Traveling collections to highlight different perspectives. 

Parks and Recreation

Ocean Beach Park and its half-mile of public ocean views are a highlight of beach season. This is the hot spot in coastal Connecticut on those steamy summer days. Spend beach days playing volleyball, or kick back in a beach chair and bury your toes in its sugar sand. Its boardwalk entertainment has water slides, mini golf, an arcade, and more. When you get hungry, the café offers a full-service menu and ice cream. And if you don’t want to dip a toe in the ocean, the park has an outdoor pool.

New London’s parks and recreation department entertains locals during all four seasons. It manages eight public parks with baseball and basketball facilities. During the colder months, it coordinates indoor sports at local gyms and community centers. Adults have aqua tai chi, pickleball, karate, and cooking classes. Youth can try gymnastics, tumbling, karate, tennis, and summer camps. The learning programs take place across 14 facilities. At Riverside Park, the amphitheater hosts summer concerts, while the gazebo is a peaceful place to enjoy some outdoor time.

Popular outdoor activities do revolve around the waterfront lifestyle. Sandy beaches extend from Ocean Beach to other New London parks like North Lake and Green Harbor Beach. You’ll have windsurfers and sailboats plying the waters from here and other launch points.

Community Events

Hear the drum beat echoing off the cobblestones and brick? It’s time for the annual burning of a Benedict Arnold effigy! Revelers dress in Revolutionary-era attire, march down Bank Street to a drum parade, and burn an effigy near the waterfront. The “March of the Traitor” festivities commemorate when the American traitor burned down most of New London.

Warm summer Thursday evenings bring locals to the Parade Plaza for outdoor community fun. Food vendors serve while live music and other activities entertain families. Fireworks end cap the night. 

What’s waterfront living without waterfront fun? July brings two beloved maritime events. First is Sailfest, which has a huge fireworks show. Then, the annual Christmas in July lighted boat parade is always a hit later in the month. In September, New London throws the CT Maritime Heritage Fest.

Living in New London

A new adventure waits around the corner in New London. Imagine waking up to the salty breeze from Long Island Sound, knowing your day will be filled with possibilities–beachfront, art events, music, or something else fun. Come find your Connecticut paradise and check out what awaits in this charming city with a local real estate expert.