Compare towns
Vernon vs Wolcott vs West Haven
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 people working from home (13.4%).
Wolcott has the most homeowners (88.4%).
West Haven has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Wolcott | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,577 |
16,279Lowest |
55,351Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.5 4% below CT |
44.4±2.5Highest 8% above CT |
35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
| Wolcott 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% |
19.4%±3.1 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| West Haven and Wolcott 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% |
18.8%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Wolcott 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
37% CT: 42.5% |
30.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,356±$6k 11% below CT |
$110,850±$10kHighest 16% above CT |
$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,500±$11kLowest 25% below CT |
$326,200±$17kHighest 11% below CT |
$291,700±$9k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$77Lowest 4% below CT |
$1,464±$913Highest about the CT average |
$1,442±$43 3% below CT |
| Wolcott and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,804 13% below CT |
$5,799Lowest 13% below CT |
$6,941Highest 4% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.3%±5.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
49.8%±24.2 CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| West Haven and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.4% CT: 10% |
1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
14.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.2% CT: 66.5% |
88.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.4%±2.5Highest CT: 16% |
11.2%±3.1 CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Vernon and Wolcott 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 | #76 of 149 in CT | #120 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Vernon School District | Wolcott School District | New Haven School District · West Haven School District |
| High school in town | Rockville High School | Wolcott High School | West Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
10.1Lowest |
15.6Highest |
| 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.