What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).

West Haven has the most affordable homes ($292k 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	Danbury	West Haven
People
Population	87,263Highest	55,351Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7%Highest CT: +0.9%	0%Lowest CT: +0.9%
Median age	40.6±1.3Highest about the CT average	35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT
Kids under 18	19.6%±1.4Lowest CT: 20.2%	20.3%±1.9Highest CT: 20.2%
	West Haven and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±1.2Highest CT: 18.5%	16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Danbury 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+	34%Highest CT: 42.5%	30.5%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.7%±1Lowest CT: 7.1%	13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,393±$6kHighest 13% below CT	$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT
	Danbury and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$411,200±$12kHighest 12% above CT	$291,700±$9kLowest 20% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,846±$63Highest 24% above CT	$1,442±$43Lowest 3% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,877Lowest 12% below CT	$6,941Highest 4% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.9%±4.8Lowest CT: 52.6%	53.4%±5.8Highest CT: 52.6%
	West Haven and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.7%Lowest CT: 10%	14.1%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.8%Highest CT: 66.5%	50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT	1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 13% above CT	23 minLowest 14% below CT
Work from home	12.7%±1.8Highest CT: 16%	9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#137 of 149 in CT	#120 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Danbury School District	New Haven School District · West Haven School District
High school in town	Danbury High School	West Haven High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.7Highest	15.6Lowest
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.