What stands out worked out from the figures below

New London has the most renters (63.9% rent).

West Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).

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 London	West Haven
People
Population	27,625Lowest	55,351Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Lowest CT: +0.9%	0%Highest CT: +0.9%
Median age	34.7±2.1Lowest 16% below CT	35.8±1.5Highest 13% below CT
	West Haven and New London are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.6%±2.5Lowest CT: 20.2%	20.3%±1.9Highest CT: 20.2%
	West Haven and New London are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15%±1.8Lowest CT: 18.5%	16%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5%
	West Haven and New London are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5%	30.5%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.3%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1%	13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1%
	West Haven and New London are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,098±$5kLowest 38% below CT	$74,382±$5kHighest 22% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$253,300±$23kLowest 31% below CT	$291,700±$9kHighest 20% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,340±$51Lowest 10% below CT	$1,442±$43Highest 3% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,977Lowest 25% below CT	$6,941Highest 4% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.2%±5.3Lowest CT: 52.6%	53.4%±5.8Highest CT: 52.6%
	West Haven and New London are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	21.6%Highest CT: 10%	14.1%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	36.1%Lowest CT: 66.5%	50.6%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1945Lowest 22 yrs older than CT	1959Highest 8 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 28% below CT	23 minHighest 14% below CT
Work from home	11.6%±2.3Highest CT: 16%	9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16%
	New London and West 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	#147 of 149 in CT	#120 of 149 in CT
School district	Interdistrict School for Arts and Comm District · New London School District	New Haven School District · West Haven School District
High school in town	New London High School	West Haven High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Lowest	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.