Discover the 6 Coldest Places in Connecticut

Connecticut is known to have chilly winters. From November through April, snow and icy weather can happen at any time. However, some parts of the state can get quite a bit chillier than others. Have you ever wondered where the coldest places in Connecticut are? If so, we’ve got you covered with our list of the top six coldest cities in the Nutmeg State.

1. Coventry

• Annual Low Temperature: 35 Degrees Fahrenheit
• Population: 12,053

Coming in at number one for the all-time chilliest place in Connecticut is the small town of Coventry. Lakes and ponds here regularly freeze over during winter. The average low annual temperature is a bone-chilling 35 degrees Fahrenheit. The coldest month is January, when Coventry’s average high only reaches 35 degrees Fahrenheit, while the average low is only 13 degrees Fahrenheit.

Not only is Coventry the coldest place overall in Connecticut, but it also holds the official record low in a tie with Falls Village at negative 32 degrees Fahrenheit, which occurred in Coventry on January 22, 1961.

With a population of 12,053, Coventry is located in Connecticut’s “Quiet Corner” of the state. Revolutionary War hero Nathan Hale was born here. Today, the Nathan Hale Homestead is open to the public as a historical museum.

2. Thomaston

• Annual Low Temperature: 35 Degrees Fahrenheit
• Population: 1,730

The small town of Thomaston, located on the Naugatuck River, is one of the coldest places in Connecticut. There are 155 days in the year when the nighttime low temperature drops below freezing. Thomaston also gets quite a bit of snow, with the annual snowfall around 44 inches. 

Thomaston lights up in the winter. The town shuts down Main Street each holiday season to hold its annual Light Up Thomaston Christmas festival. The festival includes a parade, petting zoo, carriage rides, refreshments, and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Other attractions in town include the Thomaston Opera House and the New England Railroad Company Museum. 

3. New Hartford

• Annual Low Temperature: 36 Degrees Fahrenheit
• Population: 6,685

This chilly place in Connecticut has an annual low temperature of 36 degrees Fahrenheit and sees about 59 inches of snow per year. However, this small town embraces the cold. New Hartford is home to a local outdoor ice skating pond and a 16-trail ski area called Ski Sundown. This small town is also a great place to follow the old-fashioned tradition of cutting your own Christmas tree at one of its many Christmas tree farms.

4. Norfolk

• Annual Low Temperature: 36 Degrees Fahrenheit
• Population: 1,611

Norfolk is a small New England town in the northwest corner of the state. The area is surrounded by the stunning beauty of the Great Mountain Forest, Aton Forest, plus three state parks. The town also holds the unofficial record for having the coldest day in Connecticut. 

Although the recorded low temperature was minus 32 degrees in Falls Village in 1943 and again in Coventry in 1961, it may have been even colder in Norfolk. An observer from the National Weather Service claims the temperature dropped to minus 45 degrees Fahrenheit around the area on February 16, 1943.

5. Stafford

• Annual Low Temperature: 36 Degrees Fahrenheit
• Population: 12,087

The historic town of Stafford was settled all the way back in 1719. Stafford is known for its nearby mineral springs, which notable people, including President John Adams, visited. It’s also one of the coldest places in the state, with an annual low temperature of 36 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Stafford celebrates winter each December with its Winterfest Parade of Lights and Holiday Festival. Aside from the parade, the festival offers a nativity scene, visits from Santa, tractor rides, and other traditional Christmas activities.

6. Thompson

• Annual Low Temperature: 36 Degrees Fahrenheit
• Population: 9,395

The charming town of Thompson is located in what is known as the “Last Green Valley,” or the Quinebaug Shetucket Heritage Corridor. The Last Green Valley is a National Heritage Corridor in a rural region that is made up of 84% forest and farmland. Located in the northeast corner of the state and bordered by Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Thompson is also one of the coldest places in Connecticut. Its annual low temperature is 36 degrees Fahrenheit, and the town receives about three feet of snow per year.

Summary of the 6 Coldest Places in Connecticut