Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1547355
2026 BEST PLACES FOR BUSINESS | HBJ HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | 23 SMALL MARKETS | TOP 10 SMALL MARKETS: UNDER 5,000 JOBS (90 TOWNS). #9 OLD LYME #10 ANSONIA 51.2 51.2 41.5 54.1 73.9 44.3 OVERALL SCORE OVERALL SCORE MARKET STRENGTH MARKET STRENGTH TRANSACTION COST & PROCESS TRANSACTION COST & PROCESS WHY IT RANKED HERE: An affluent shoreline town, low property taxes and strong recent business growth create favorable conditions for commercial investment in Old Lyme. WHY IT RANKED HERE: A Naugatuck Valley mill city in redevelopment, Ansonia combines a dense commercial core with access to the broader New Haven region. SIGNATURE STAT: 25.5% growth — Business registrations grew 25.5% from 2021 to 2025. SIGNATURE STAT: 1.86 million people — About 1.86 million people live within a 45-minute drive. MARKET SNAPSHOT MARKET SNAPSHOT Jobs Jobs 3,019 4,437 Business establishments Business establishments 1,040 1,222 Commercial tax base Commercial tax base 6% 8% Population within 45 minutes Population within 45 minutes 901,990 1.86 million 5-year avg mill rate 5-year avg mill rate 22.19 31.38 Business registration growth (2021–25) Business registration growth (2021–25) +25.5% +6.4% OUT OF 100 OUT OF 100 OUT OF 100 OUT OF 100 #7 SEYMOUR #8 WESTBROOK 52.5 51.5 60.6 45 33.8 66.6 OVERALL SCORE OVERALL SCORE MARKET STRENGTH MARKET STRENGTH TRANSACTION COST & PROCESS TRANSACTION COST & PROCESS WHY IT RANKED HERE: Seymour has a sizable commercial base and access to the broader New Haven and Naugatuck Valley markets. WHY IT RANKED HERE: Westbrook has a strong shoreline retail presence, relatively low property taxes and favorable development conditions. SIGNATURE STAT: 4,609 jobs — A sizable employment base for a community of Seymour's size. SIGNATURE STAT: 868,718 people — Nearly 869,000 people live within a 45-minute drive. MARKET SNAPSHOT MARKET SNAPSHOT Jobs Jobs 4,609 3,126 Business establishments Business establishments 1,360 887 Commercial tax base Commercial tax base 11% 10% Population within 45 minutes Population within 45 minutes 1.88 million 868,718 5-year avg mill rate 5-year avg mill rate 34.17 22.26 Business registration growth (2021–25) Business registration growth (2021–25) +7.2% +2.4% OUT OF 100 OUT OF 100 OUT OF 100 OUT OF 100