What stands out worked out from the figures below

Vernon has the most people working from home (13.4%).

West Haven has the most kids (20.3% under 18).

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	Vernon	West Haven
People
Population	30,577Lowest	55,351Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	0% CT: +0.9%
Median age	39.4±2.5Highest 4% below CT	35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT
	Vernon and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±2Lowest CT: 20.2%	20.3%±1.9Highest CT: 20.2%
	West Haven and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.6%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5%	16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Vernon and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38%Highest CT: 42.5%	30.5%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.8%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1%	13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,356±$6kHighest 11% below CT	$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$275,500±$11kLowest 25% below CT	$291,700±$9kHighest 20% below CT
	West Haven and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$77Lowest 4% below CT	$1,442±$43Highest 3% below CT
	West Haven and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,804Lowest 13% below CT	$6,941Highest 4% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.3%±5.7Lowest CT: 52.6%	53.4%±5.8Highest CT: 52.6%
Below poverty line	13.4%Lowest CT: 10%	14.1%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.2%Highest CT: 66.5%	50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT	1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the CT average	23 minLowest 14% below CT
Work from home	13.4%±2.5Highest CT: 16%	9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#107 of 149 in CT	#120 of 149 in CT
School district	Vernon School District	New Haven School District · West Haven School District
High school in town	Rockville High School	West Haven High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Lowest	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.