What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.3%).

West Haven has the most homeowners (50.6%).

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	West Haven
People
Population	134,349Highest	55,351Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.3%Highest CT: +0.9%	0%Lowest CT: +0.9%
Median age	31.9±0.5Lowest 22% below CT	35.8±1.5Highest 13% below CT
Kids under 18	21.3%±1Highest CT: 20.2%	20.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 20.2%
	New Haven and West Haven 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%	16%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.9%Highest CT: 42.5%	30.5%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.9%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1%	13.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1%
	New Haven and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,851±$4kLowest 41% below CT	$74,382±$5kHighest 22% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$287,100±$16kLowest 22% below CT	$291,700±$9kHighest 20% below CT
	West Haven and New Haven 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	$1,442±$43Lowest 3% below CT
	New Haven and West Haven 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	$6,941Highest 4% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.6%±3.2Highest CT: 52.6%	53.4%±5.8Lowest CT: 52.6%
	New Haven and West 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%	14.1%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	28.4%Lowest CT: 66.5%	50.6%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 13 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	13.9%±1.6Highest CT: 16%	9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#145 of 149 in CT	#120 of 149 in CT
School district	Common Ground High School District · Elm City Montessori School District	New Haven School District · West Haven School District
High school in town	Wilbur Cross High School	West Haven High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.7Lowest	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.