10 Best Coastal Towns in New England
Looking to live by the water? Explore other coastal cities in New England.
Mystic is a charming village on Connecticut’s southeast coastline. The city revolves around boating and is home to an array of marinas and historic landmarks. Residents and visitors alike enjoy visiting the family-friendly Mystic Seaport Museum. This reimagined settlement on the Mystic River features a 19th-century village, historic chips, a museum, and more. The central commercial district in Mystic is lined with local restaurants and specialty shops like the Engine Room, a rustic-chic eatery offering classic comfort food and craft beers. Across the river you’ll find even more dining options and local shops. Residents flock to Williams Beach Park to enjoy the seasonal benefits to this green space that offers swimming, a playground, sports fields, and scenic picnic spots overlooking the water. Apartments in the area range from affordable to upscale, so there’s something for everyone in this welcoming coastal community.
As of October 2025, the average apartment rent in Mystic, CT is $865 for a studio, $2,017 for one bedroom, $2,776 for two bedrooms, and $3,571 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Mystic has increased by 7.7% in the past year.
Looking to live by the water? Explore other coastal cities in New England.
Somewhat Walkable
out of 100 WalkScore® Rating
You might be able to get out and walk when living in this area. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, but for others you’ll need a car.
Somewhat Bikeable
out of 100 BikeScore® Rating
You might be able to find places to ride your bike in this area, but you’ll most likely want your car for most errands.
Public
Grades PK-5
318 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
493 Students
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† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in September 2025.