What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Haven has the most people working from home (13.9%).

Bridgeport has the most homeowners (42.8%).

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 Haven	Bridgeport
People
Population	134,349Lowest	149,153Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.3%Highest CT: +0.9%	+3.1%Lowest CT: +0.9%
Median age	31.9±0.5Lowest 22% below CT	36.7±0.7Highest 11% below CT
Kids under 18	21.3%±1Highest CT: 20.2%	20.9%±0.8Lowest CT: 20.2%
	New Haven and Bridgeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	11.8%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5%	13.7%±0.8Highest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.9%Highest CT: 42.5%	23.4%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.9%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1%	8.1%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,851±$4kLowest 41% below CT	$58,685±$2kHighest 39% below CT
	Bridgeport and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$287,100±$16kHighest 22% below CT	$274,900±$9kLowest 25% below CT
	New Haven and Bridgeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,488±$33Highest about the CT average	$1,450±$35Lowest about the CT average
	New Haven and Bridgeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,430Lowest 3% below CT	$6,496Highest about the CT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.6%±3.2Lowest CT: 52.6%	59.5%±3Highest CT: 52.6%
	Bridgeport and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	23.9%Highest CT: 10%	21%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	28.4%Lowest CT: 66.5%	42.8%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT	1955Highest 12 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 19% below CT	31 minHighest 15% above CT
Work from home	13.9%±1.6Highest CT: 16%	7.6%±1Lowest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#145 of 149 in CT	#148 of 149 in CT
School district	Common Ground High School District · Elm City Montessori School District	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · The Bridge Academy District
High school in town	Wilbur Cross High School	Central High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.7Lowest	18.6Highest
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.