What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Britain has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).

West Haven has the most expensive 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	New Britain	West Haven
People
Population	74,223Highest	55,351Lowest
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	35.8±1.5Highest 13% below CT
	West Haven and New Britain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2%	20.3%±1.9Lowest 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%	16%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5%
	West Haven and New Britain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.6%Lowest CT: 42.5%	30.5%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.4%±1Lowest CT: 7.1%	13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,613±$2kLowest 39% below CT	$74,382±$5kHighest 22% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$223,600±$6kLowest 39% below CT	$291,700±$9kHighest 20% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,253±$45Lowest 16% below CT	$1,442±$43Highest 3% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,846Lowest 12% below CT	$6,941Highest 4% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.2%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6%	53.4%±5.8Lowest CT: 52.6%
	New Britain and West Haven 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%	14.1%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	45.1%Lowest CT: 66.5%	50.6%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT	1959Highest 8 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 19% below CT	23 minHighest 14% below CT
Work from home	8%±1.4Lowest CT: 16%	9.2%±1.4Highest CT: 16%
	West Haven and New Britain 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	New Haven School District · West Haven School District
High school in town	New Britain High School	West Haven High School
Students per teacherat that high school	16.2Highest	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.