What stands out worked out from the figures below

Branford has the most people working from home (16.1%).

East Haven has the most affordable homes ($294k median).

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	Branford	East Haven
People
Population	28,217Highest	27,806Lowest
Median age	54.2±2.1Highest 32% above CT	45.7±2.5Lowest 11% above CT
Kids under 18	14.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 20.2%	16.8%±2.2Highest CT: 20.2%
	East Haven and Branford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.3%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5%	20.5%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.5%Highest CT: 42.5%	25.8%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1%	5.1%±1Highest CT: 7.1%
	East Haven and Branford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$105,225±$7kHighest 10% above CT	$94,628±$9kLowest about the CT average
	Branford and East Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$401,200±$21kHighest 9% above CT	$294,200±$12kLowest 20% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,565±$111Highest 5% above CT	$1,528±$132Lowest about the CT average
	Branford and East Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,575Highest about the CT average	$5,122Lowest 23% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.7%±9Lowest CT: 52.6%	58.9%±9.9Highest CT: 52.6%
	East Haven and Branford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Lowest CT: 10%	7.2%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.5%Lowest CT: 66.5%	74.6%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT	1967Lowest same as CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below CT	24 minHighest 9% below CT
Work from home	16.1%±3.8Highest CT: 16%	9%±2.1Lowest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#94 of 149 in CT	#127 of 149 in CT
School district	Branford School District	East Haven School District
High school in town	Branford High School	East Haven High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Lowest	12.0Highest
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.