What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Haven has the most affordable homes ($292k median).

Danbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).

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	West Haven	Danbury
People
Population	55,351Lowest	87,263Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Lowest CT: +0.9%	+7%Highest CT: +0.9%
Median age	35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT	40.6±1.3Highest about the CT average
Kids under 18	20.3%±1.9Highest CT: 20.2%	19.6%±1.4Lowest CT: 20.2%
	West Haven and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5%	17.2%±1.2Highest CT: 18.5%
	Danbury 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+	30.5%Lowest CT: 42.5%	34%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1%	7.7%±1Lowest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT	$83,393±$6kHighest 13% below CT
	Danbury and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$291,700±$9kLowest 20% below CT	$411,200±$12kHighest 12% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,442±$43Lowest 3% below CT	$1,846±$63Highest 24% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,941Highest 4% above CT	$5,877Lowest 12% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.4%±5.8Highest CT: 52.6%	51.9%±4.8Lowest CT: 52.6%
	West Haven and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.1%Highest CT: 10%	11.7%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5%	53.8%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT	1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below CT	30 minHighest 13% above CT
Work from home	9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16%	12.7%±1.8Highest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#120 of 149 in CT	#137 of 149 in CT
School district	New Haven School District · West Haven School District	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Danbury School District
High school in town	West Haven High School	Danbury High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.6Lowest	15.7Highest
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.