Compare towns
New Britain vs Union vs West Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Britain has the most affordable homes ($224k median).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
West Haven has the most people working from home (9.2%).
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.
| Measure | New Britain | Union | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 74,223Highest |
944Lowest |
55,351 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 34.3±1.2Lowest 17% below CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
35.8±1.5 13% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
| New Britain and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±1.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
30.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±1 CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,613±$2kLowest 39% below CT |
$88,958±$14kHighest 7% below CT |
$74,382±$5k 22% below CT |
| Union and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $223,600±$6kLowest 39% below CT |
$330,400±$26kHighest 10% below CT |
$291,700±$9k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,253±$45Lowest 16% below CT |
— | $1,442±$43Highest 3% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,846 12% below CT |
$4,793Lowest 28% below CT |
$6,941Highest 4% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and New Britain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.1%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
14.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1959 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 19% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
23 min 14% below CT |
| Work from home | 8%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7 CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4Highest CT: 16% |
| West Haven and Union 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 | #149 of 149 in CT | — | #120 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Capitol Region Education Council | Union School District | New Haven School District · West Haven School District |
| High school in town | New Britain High School | None in town | West Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
— | 15.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.