Compare towns

New Haven vs Suffield vs East Haven

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Haven has the most renters (71.6% rent).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
East Haven has the oldest population (median age 45.7).

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.

MeasureNew HavenSuffieldEast Haven
People
Population
134,349Highest
15,702Lowest
27,806
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.3%
CT: +0.9%
— —
Median age
31.9±0.5Lowest
22% below CT
44.5±1.7
8% above CT
45.7±2.5Highest
11% above CT
East Haven and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.3%±1Highest
CT: 20.2%
16.2%±2Lowest
CT: 20.2%
16.8%±2.2
CT: 20.2%
Age 65+
11.8%±0.8Lowest
CT: 18.5%
18.4%±2.2
CT: 18.5%
20.5%±1.9Highest
CT: 18.5%
East Haven and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
38.9%
CT: 42.5%
40.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
25.8%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
14.9%±0.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.4%±1.2Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.1%±1
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$56,851±$4kLowest
41% below CT
$119,472±$13kHighest
25% above CT
$94,628±$9k
about the CT average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$287,100±$16kLowest
22% below CT
$407,500±$26kHighest
11% above CT
$294,200±$12k
20% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,488±$33
about the CT average
$1,424±$141Lowest
4% below CT
$1,528±$132Highest
about the CT average
East Haven and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,430
3% below CT
$6,456Highest
about the CT average
$5,122Lowest
23% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.6%±3.2
CT: 52.6%
51%±4.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
58.9%±9.9Highest
CT: 52.6%
East Haven 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%
4.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
7.2%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
28.4%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
86.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
74.6%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1954Lowest
13 yrs older than CT
1979Highest
12 yrs newer than CT
1967
same as CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
19% below CT
26 minHighest
3% below CT
24 min
9% below CT
Work from home
13.9%±1.6
CT: 16%
18.4%±4.1Highest
CT: 16%
9%±2.1Lowest
CT: 16%
Suffield and New Haven 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 #145 of 149 in CT #57 of 149 in CT #127 of 149 in CT
School district Common Ground High School District · Elm City Montessori School District Suffield School District East Haven School District
High school in town Wilbur Cross High School Suffield High School East Haven High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.7Highest
10.9Lowest
12.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.