Compare towns
Vernon vs West Haven vs Ellington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vernon has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
West Haven has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Ellington has the highest household income ($130k).
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.
| Measure | Vernon | West Haven | Ellington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,577 |
55,351Highest |
16,455Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±2.5 4% below CT |
35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
40.9±2.4Highest about the CT average |
| Ellington and Vernon 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%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Ellington and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38% CT: 42.5% |
30.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,356±$6k 11% below CT |
$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,500±$11kLowest 25% below CT |
$291,700±$9k 20% below CT |
$366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$77Lowest 4% below CT |
$1,442±$43 3% below CT |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,804Lowest 13% below CT |
$6,941Highest 4% above CT |
$6,751 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.3%±5.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
| West Haven and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.4% CT: 10% |
14.1%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.2% CT: 66.5% |
50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
72.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
31 minHighest 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.4%±2.5 CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Ellington and Vernon 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 | #107 of 149 in CT | #120 of 149 in CT | #46 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Vernon School District | New Haven School District · West Haven School District | Ellington School District |
| High school in town | Rockville High School | West Haven High School | Ellington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
15.6Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.