HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) – A new survey ranked the best and worst states in which to drive.

The personal finance website WalletHub published the survey on Tuesday.

WalletHub said it compared the 50 states across 31 metrics of a positive commute. The data included average gas prices, rush hour traffic congestion, and road quality.

Connecticut ranked as not the best, but also not the worst.

It put the state as 22nd on the list, which put it toward the “best” half of the country.

Here’s how the state fared in the metrics that contributed to its overall rank:

• 35th in ownership and maintenance
• 35th in traffic and infrastructure
• 2nd in safety
• 19th in access to vehicles and maintenance rank

“Owning a car can really squeeze your wallet if you’re not in the right location,” said Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst. “On top of having pricey gas, maintenance and insurance expenses, some states can hurt you even more financially with excessive traffic congestion, which wastes both your fuel and your productivity. The best states to drive in are ones that are relatively rural, with smaller populations, a low cost of living, well-maintained roads and safe motorists.”

The top three best driving states were Vermont, Iowa, and Kansas.

The worst were Montana, Washington, and Hawaii.

Read the complete list on WalletHub’s website here.

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Willimantic fire officials say one person is in critical condition after an apartment fire Sunday night.

The fire broke out just before 10 p.m. at the Armory Apartments on Pleasant Street. Fire crews received several 911 calls reporting the blaze, as well as a notification from the building’s fire alarms.

Willimantic fire crews arrived minutes later and found smoke and fire coming from the back of the building. Officials said one person was out of the building and was injured.

The Willimantic Police Department assisted in evacuating other residents from the apartments. The resident who was injured was taken to Hartford Hospital for serious burn injuries and then transferred to the Bridgeport Hospital burn center, according to officials.

Crews tackled the fire, which also extended to the second-floor apartment and into the attic. The fire was escalated to a second alarm for additional mutual aid.

Officials said the snow made the roads “less than ideal” for reaching the scene.

After crews worked to open ceilings and walls, the flames were visible through ventilation openings in the room, and a third alarm was raised for additional resources. Willimantic fire crews were assisted by other fire departments from North Windham, Windham Center, Windham Hospital paramedics, Mansfield, University of Connecticut, Columbia, Coventry, Hebron, Scotland, and Norwich.

The fire was eventually brought under control and fully extinguished.

“I’m proud of [the fire crews’] efforts and grateful to our mutual aid partners for their assistance in helping us bring this incident under control,” Fire Chief Ron Palmer, Jr., said.

The building once served as a state armory and was renovated years prior into a 30-unit apartment, officials said. Six apartments were affected by fire, smoke, or water damage and have been ruled uninhabitable.

The Windham Fire Marshal’s office, along with the Connecticut State Police Fire Explosion Investigation Unit, will be investigating the cause of the fire.

GROTON, CT (WFSB) – Overnight snowfall created mixed road conditions across Connecticut on Monday morning.

Side roads presented more challenging driving than highways.

That was why many organizations posted closings or delays. See the list here.

“[There will be] ongoing snow showers through daybreak, though exiting from west to east through that time frame,” said meteorologist Jill Gilardi. “Temperatures [will be] in the 20s and 30s. Increasing sunshine later [Monday] morning, and plenty of melting, though be mindful of untreated surfaces that could be slick.”

Many drivers reported that side roads were not plowed and slick spots were encountered when they left residential areas.

However, highway conditions were significantly better due to state Department of Transportation crews working throughout the night.

CT DOT said its truck drivers worked through the night and continued plowing and salting roads Monday morning to make them as safe as possible for drivers.

Despite improved highway conditions, drivers may still encounter occasional patches of ice or slushy snow. Officials urged drivers to travel much slower than normal speeds, even when road conditions appear good, in case they hit unexpected slick spots.

Many people said they are staying home from school and work on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Those who must travel were advised to use extra caution and allow additional time for their commutes.

For real-time traffic updates, check the Channel 3 First Alert Traffic map here.

Take a look at the forecast with the technical discussion from Channel 3’s meteorologists here.

Download the WFSB News and Weather apps here.

Copyright 2026 WFSB. All rights reserved.