CT Ranked One of the Least Generous States

The good news is that Connecticut is the most generous state in New England when it comes to donating to charity. The bad news is that the state ranks 45th in the nation when it comes to percentage of a salary donated.

A study by the Chronicle of Philanthropy analyzed income levels and Internal Revenue Service records to determine what percentage of salaries each state gives to charity.

"Connecticut ranks first among New England states in giving as a percentage of discretionary income, but the state's 3.3-percent rate is well below the national average," wrote the authors of the study.

In terms of total donations, Connecticut ranked 22 with $2.3 billion given.

Utah topped the list percentage-wise with 10.6 percent of each salary donated, followed by the District of Columbia at 7.7 percent and Mississippi at 7.2 percent.

In New England, New Hampshire donated the least with 2.5 percent. Maine and Vermont fared slightly higher at 2.8 percent.

Peter Panepento, assistant managing editor at the Chronicle of Philanthropy, told NPR that religious donations are the most prevalent.

"States like Utah and Alabama and Mississippi all end up very high on our list," he said. "And states where [there's] more of a secular mindset, particularly in New England and all along the coast, tended to show up lower on the list."

Connecticut residents can at least take solace in their health. The state was  in the country. 

Stratford Donations

Stratford residents gave a median contribution of $1,787, according to the report, 3.7 percent of the median discretionary income of $48,419.

As a town, Stratford placed 6,949 out of 11,522 U.S. locales surveyed in the study.