What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bantam has the most people working from home (16%).

West Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bantam	West Haven
People
Population	810Lowest	55,351Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.1%Lowest CT: +0.9%	0%Highest CT: +0.9%
Median age	47.2±15.7Highest 15% above CT	35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT
	Bantam and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.8%±6.5Lowest CT: 20.2%	20.3%±1.9Highest CT: 20.2%
	West Haven and Bantam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.4%±8.5Highest CT: 18.5%	16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Bantam and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.2%Lowest CT: 42.5%	30.5%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 7.1%	13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	—	$74,382±$5k 22% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$317,700±$40kHighest 13% below CT	$291,700±$9kLowest 20% below CT
	Bantam and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$688±$106Lowest 54% below CT	$1,442±$43Highest 3% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,984Lowest 40% below CT	$6,941Highest 4% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.3%±12.9Highest CT: 52.6%	53.4%±5.8Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Bantam and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.4%Highest CT: 10%	14.1%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.1%Lowest CT: 66.5%	50.6%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT	1959Highest 8 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the CT average	23 minLowest 14% below CT
Work from home	16%±7.9Highest CT: 16%	9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16%
	Bantam and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#120 of 149 in CT
School district	—	New Haven School District · West Haven School District
High school in town	—	West Haven High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	15.6
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.