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As of 2023, Connecticut has become the 8th most expensive state to live in the United States. The cost of living including the average utility cost ranks with the likes of California, New York, and Alaska. Generally speaking, most residents in this state can expect to pay around $438 per month for their electricity, gas, cable, internet, and water. Of course, this cost varies depending on factors such as the total area of your home, the internet providers you have, how much water you use, etc.

What is the Average Income of Fairfield County Residents?

The average annual household income in Fairfield County is $187,562, while the median household income sits at $125,581 per year. Residents between ages 25 and 44 earn $128,767, while those between 45 and 64 years old have a median wage of $147,567. Fairfield County has an annual income per capita around $61,887. From this income, most families in Fairfield County spend a large part of their income on housing, food, childcare, transportations, taxes, and other necessities. Here are some common averages expenses that people usually spend every month living in Fairfield County.

  • Housing: $1,600 
  • Food: $900 
  • Child Care: $1,600  
  • Transportation: $1,300 
  • Other necessities: $1,100 
  • Taxes: $1,600

In addition to these expenses, residents also need to pay for the monthly utility bills. Here is a breakdown of the average utility costs in Connecticut:

  • Electricity: $147
  • Natural Gas: $107
  • Water: $69
  • Internet: $38
  • Cable: $45

Furthermore, when talking about the income and expenses of people in Fairfield County, we should also mention the average home value or home price in this area. As of 2023, the median sale price for a home in Fairfield County is $470,000. This price went up 4.4% compared to last year.

Additional Details from Towns in Fairfield County 

The average income from Fairfield County is supported by some towns with significantly higher income than other Fairfield County towns or cities. In this section, we will discuss details such as income, expenses, and average home prices from a few popular towns and cities in Fairfield County.

New Canaan

New Canaan has one of the highest per capita incomes and also median household incomes in the area. Our home city has about $119,935.00 per capita income and $214,977.00 as its median household income. Housing is the biggest factor that can cause the taxes here to be so high. The median home price in New Canaan is $2,750,000. This price is more expensive than any other town that is located in Fairfield County.

Norwalk

This is another popular city in Fairfield County. Norwalk has a medium-income and expense compared to the other cities in this county. The annual income per capita of this city is $52,219, while the median household income for people in this city is $89,047. The median home value in Norwalk is around $478,100 with the median rent being about $2,335 monthly. When you live in this city, you also need to pay for the energy bill (which is around $187), phone bill (around $200), and gas ($3 per gallon).

Fairfield

If you live in Fairfield, you are expecting to receive about $122,306 as of its median household income in this town. The annual income per capita in this town is about $60,155. The median home price in Fairfield town is about $525,000. The living cost in Fairfield, Connecticut is more expensive than the US average. For renting a house in this town, you are going to spend about $1,000 – $1,700 depending on the number of bedrooms you have in your home.

Products to Reduce Your Electricity Bill

Your electricity bill is typically your most expensive monthly fee. That’s why homeowners and residents alike are looking for the best ways to reduce their electricity bills. In this section, we’ll provide you with a list of products that can reduce your electricity bills significantly. These products are proven to be very effective in reducing the overall electrical consumption at your home.

Appliance Energy Use Chart

  • Portable heater
    • 1.5 kWh per hour
      • $0.20 per hour
  • Electric furnace
    • 10 kWh per hour w/fan
      • $1.39 per hour
  • Window/wall
    • 1.8 kWh per hour
      • $0.23 per hour
  • Whole house fan
    • 0.4 kWh per hour
      • $0.05 per hour
  • Central
    • 3.0 kWh per hour
      • $0.39 per hour
  • Oven
    • 3 kWh per hour
      • $0.30 per hour
  • Microwave
    • 0.12 kWh per 5 min
      • $0.02 per 5 min
  • Dishwasher
    • 0.5 kWh per load
      • $0.07 per load
  • Refrigerator
    • 35 kWh per month
      • $ 4.49 per month
  • HDTV >40″
    • 0.025 kWh per hour
      • Less than $0.01 per hour
  • Nintendo Switch
    • 157.7 kWh per year
      • $20.50 per year
  • Desktop computer
    • 0.06–kWh per hour
      • $0.03 per hour
  • Compact fluorescent
    • 0.008 kWh per hour
      • Less than $0.01 per hour
  • Heat Lamp
    • 0.04 kWh per hour
      • Less than $0.01 per hour

LED Bulbs

LED bulbs are perfect if you are looking for a good, common product for reducing the electricity bill. This product is definitely the first place to start. You can purchase and install LED bulbs at your home without calling an electrician. LED bulbs consume less energy than other traditional bulbs. These bulbs are recommended for those who are looking for a durable bulb and quality light. LED bulbs can last for more than 100,000 operating hours. LED bulbs are commonly 2-4 times more durable than the other traditional bulbs on the market today.

Energy Saving AC Units

Energy Saving AC Units
LED bulbs are great, however, if you want to save even more money on your electricity bill, you should consider buying energy-saving AC units. These units can work efficiently in your home to keep you and your wallet cool. These AC units are recommended for those of you who are concerned about HVAC and how it impacts the environment. You will be able to save a lot of your money on the monthly bills when using these energy-saving AC units in any rooms inside your home.

Smart Sensors

Smart Sensors
It is recommended for you to install some smart sensors in your home as well if you want to lower your overall monthly utility bill. Smart sensors are very useful to help you turn off any unused electrical devices automatically. When there is no one home, these smart sensors will turn off any light bulbs in your home as well as just about any other appliance you can think of. These sensors work by using motion detection technology. Some smart sensors can also detect natural light from the sun. You can save a lot of money by installing some of these smart sensors in your home because their only focus is conserving energy.

Smart Plug

Smart Sensors
You can also use a smart plug to reduce the overall monthly bills in your home. When you forget to turn off any electrical devices in your home before you leave your property, you no longer have to worry! Smart plugs allow you to cut the power or electricity from your mobile device. You can also schedule the function of this smart plug, so it will turn off any devices automatically when you are going to work every day. Find a great list of smart plugs here.

 Smart Thermostats

Smart Sensors
If you want to save a lot of energy in your home, you should consider having this type of device installed today. A smart thermostat like Nest, allows you to maintain the temperature level in your home without having to worry about unnecessary energy use. This thermostat can be set up for creating a custom cooling and heating schedule every day. Many people claim that they can save up to 10 – 15 percent on the heating and cooling costs every month. It can be a huge saving for those families who want to reduce their energy bill significantly.

 Best Smart Appliances to Lower Your Utility Bill

Smart home systems, in particular,  have become increasingly popular over the last few years. Products in the home appliance industry have been integrating with these systems for some time. Many people are looking for the best appliances that they can install in their home to utilize this new technology and lower their overall utility bill. The products that we are going to share with you are specially designed with a smart system. These products can improve the quality of your home as well as give you total control over your appliances.  As a reminder, Santella Electric does not specialize in the installation of smart appliances however these products will help significantly lower your monthly electric bill.

Teak Smart Cube Modular Cube-Shaped Power Outlet

Teak Smart Cube Modular Cube-Shaped Power Outlet
The Teak Smart Cub modular cube-shaped power outlet can save you a lot in energy bills. This power outlet has a clever, modular design. The cube-shaped modular layout makes its power outlets versatile, neat, and space efficient. This power outlet, also, stands out because of its compatible software. The AI-based eMission Control learns from your usage and the local utility grid data, and then, based on that, turns your power on and off. In this way, you can easily save energy and reduce carbon emissions on plugged-in electric appliances without disrupting your lifestyle.

Ecobee3 Lite Smart Wi-Fi Thermostat

Ecobee3 Lite Smart Wi-Fi Thermostat
This wi-fi based product will allow you to save on energy by automatically heating or cooling your home. It’ll learn your routine and recommend changes to the thermostat based on your schedule. Additionally, the Ecobee3 comes with a range of smart features. For example, it’ll use your air conditioner to lower the indoor humidity – without requiring a separate humidifier. Also, the Smart Home & Away mode will automatically adjust the temperature when you leave home and restore it to your comfort settings when you return. Finally, the Follow Me feature detects which room you’re in and adjusts the temperature accordingly to suit your comfort level in those spaces.

Wyze Plug Outdoor Smart Outlets

Wyze Plug Outdoor Smart Outlets
The Wyze Plug Outdoor smart outlets automate your outdoor lighting and allows you to keep a watchful eye on your energy consumption. This outdoor device helps you schedule your string lights. The Plug Outdoor also helps you monitor your use of energy by letting you set consumption alerts and seeing your historical energy use in the Wyze app. Even better, its built-in light sensor allows it to turn lights on and off based on environmental light. Furthermore, this device can withstand rain, dirt, dust, and snow. And with the Wyze app, you can control this smart home gadget from anywhere and you have independent control of both outlets.

iDevices Smart Wall Outlet

iDevices Smart Wall Outlet
Turn any regular wall outlet into a connected one with the iDevices Smart Wall Outlet. This wi-fi enabled device works with HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Assistant. You can control your home appliances with simple voice commands. Because of the individual outlet control, this smart home gadget allows you to operate two appliances independently. So, you can set your lamp and your fan to follow different schedules. With this feature, you won’t need a central hub or gateway. Additionally, this design fits right into your home thanks to the standard size, color, and voltage. Finally, with the iDevices app, you can track your energy efficiency, set schedules, automate your home with scenes, and do more from your tablet or smartphone.

SimpliSafe

SimpliSafe
If a CCTV camera is not good enough to help you improve the security system in your home take a look at this product. SimpliSafe can be a perfect product that can offer a safe and secure environment in your home. This product comes with a base station, a motion sensor, a keypad, a close and open sensor, etc. 8 different sensors are available in this product, ranging from glass-break to smoke detection. There’s also no contract to lock you into a specific service plan.

Additional Tips & Tricks to Save on Your Energy Bill

When you want to save money, a good place to start is by learning how you can save on your energy bill. In this section, we’ll be speaking on how you can cut down your monthly costs on energy or utility with minimal interference on your day-to-day life. Some of these tips below can save you up to $700 – $1,000 depending on the total amount of electrical appliances or other accessories in your home.

Turn Off All Electrical Appliances When You’re Not Using Them

It may be a simple tip, but this step is very important in helping cut down on your electricity bills or utility costs. Consider turning off your A/C units, heater, and appliances, especially when you are going to leave your home for an extended period. Don’t forget to turn off some other equipment or accessories, such as computers, printers, WiFi routers, and other devices when you are away. Some computers or other smart home devices can have an automatic system that will turn off these devices automatically. This can help you save a lot of your money on utility costs. These days, with smart homes and their mobile apps being widely available, this practice should be easier than ever!

Change the Way You Wash and Dry Your Clothes

This is a bit of a unique tip but it’s recommended for families who want to save even more money on their energy bill. You can save more than $100 per year by cleaning your clothes in cold water. There is nothing wrong with washing your clothes in cold water. It is also a great idea for you to wait until your washing machine is full before you start a washing cycle to conserve energy. If you want to reduce your utility cost, you can also avoid using the dryer totally. You can hang your clothes outside and let them dry naturally without using any electrical devices.

Utilize Efficiency in the Kitchen

You can start practicing efficiency with your refrigerator. The fridge runs continuously, every day of the year. Therefore, you have to regularly check up on the functionality of this appliance. Make sure that the door of your refrigerator is completely sealed tight. This will ensure that you save energy on your refrigerator. Another good tip is to avoid putting warm or hot foods into your refrigerator as this will cause the temperature inside the appliance to increase, causing the refrigerator to use more energy to get the temp back to normal. Additionally, when you are cooking in your kitchen, you should consider sometimes using a microwave rather than an electric oven. Microwaves usually use less energy than the regular electric oven.

Insulate Your Home Completely

An insulated ceiling or roof can make a huge difference in your energy bills. It’s actually recommended you start using effective and efficient ceiling insulation. When you follow this tip correctly, you will be able to save up to 20 percent on your heating and cooling costs in your home.

Contact a Santella Electrician in Fairfield County

There is an endless list of things you can do to help you save money on your utility cost. It may take some time for you to adapt to your new habit, but once you start reducing the overall utility and electricity costs in your home, it becomes a way of life. You can also make a difference in the environment when you can start reducing the energy consumption in your home. Consistency is the main key that you need to have, especially if you want to see significant savings over the long term. Talk to a Fairfield County Electrical Expert today at Santella Electric! We will devise a plan and install the most efficient appliances in your home. Contact us today!
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Areas We Serve

Fairfield County: All along the Gold Coast, up to New Milford, Santella Electric, Inc. covers all of Fairfield County, CT. Connecticut is our home and we love serving the residents of the Nutmeg State. We are headquartered in New Canaan and have a full fleet of trucks all over the county at any given time. Fairfield County trusts Santella Electric!

Westchester County: From Pound Ridge to Mount Kisco, we love serving Southern New York. Many of our technicians reside in Westchester County and can be counted on by your family or business both day and night.

New Canaan
Pound Ridge, NY
Stamford
Bridgeport
Cos Cob
South Salem, NY
Darien
 Norwalk
Fairfield
Greenwich
Mount Kisco, NY
Wilton

& all of Fairfield County!

 

Google Reviews

Santella Electric
4.8
Based on 95 reviews
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Aimee ShieldsAimee Shields
15:54 21 Nov 22
We had a fantastic experience with Santella. Tony came to our house and was incredibly knowledgable, professional, and friendly. He not only knew exactly what to do, he also consulted me for decisions about how to position all my new fixtures and outlets. As a person who really cares about the details and aesthetic, I appreciated that more than I can say. A few of our projects were tricky due to our house layout, especially adding outdoor outlets, but Tony worked hard to make it all work and look good. I'm very pleased with our updated lighting/power and will definitely ask for him again next time we call Santella!
Brian StapletonBrian Stapleton
00:24 19 Nov 22
Tony at Santella Electric is the best. Professional, responsive, courteous and intelligent. I trust his work and highly recommend him.
Jan HilgemanJan Hilgeman
13:00 19 Oct 22
This we our first time using Santella Electric at our new home. The office personnel were responsive and friendly, and we loved the electrician who came to troubleshoot and do the repairs we need. Courteous, friendly, respectful and resolved the problem easily. He took the time to explain the problem so I could understand it.
Karin SchrammKarin Schramm
14:31 07 Oct 22
Johan was on time, professional & explained all the work he did. Thank goodness, he had the circuit breaker’s we needed + the updated GCFI outlet for the kitchen. Now, my Mom can use her stove, oven, washer & dryer, again. SO grateful.
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