What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monroe has the highest household income ($157k).

West Haven has the most renters (49.4% rent).

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	Monroe	West Haven
People
Population	18,949Lowest	55,351Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	0% CT: +0.9%
Median age	43.5±2.2Highest 6% above CT	35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT
Kids under 18	25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2%	20.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Monroe and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5%	16%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5%
	West Haven and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.3%Highest CT: 42.5%	30.5%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1%	13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT	$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT	$291,700±$9kLowest 20% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT	$1,442±$43Highest 3% below CT
	West Haven and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT	$6,941Lowest 4% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6%	53.4%±5.8Highest CT: 52.6%
	West Haven and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.6%Lowest CT: 10%	14.1%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.7%Highest CT: 66.5%	50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT	1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 29% above CT	23 minLowest 14% below CT
Work from home	15.4%±3.3Highest CT: 16%	9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#48 of 149 in CT	#120 of 149 in CT
School district	Monroe School District	New Haven School District · West Haven School District
High school in town	Masuk High School	West Haven High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Lowest	15.6Highest
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.