Compare towns
West Haven vs Monroe vs Danbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Haven has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Monroe has the highest household income ($157k).
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 | West Haven | Monroe | Danbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 55,351 |
18,949Lowest |
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 |
43.5±2.2Highest 6% above CT |
40.6±1.3 about the CT average |
| Monroe and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.6%±1.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Monroe and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest 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% |
57.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
$157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$83,393±$6k 13% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,700±$9kLowest 20% below CT |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$411,200±$12k 12% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,442±$43 3% below CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,846±$63Highest 24% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941 4% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$5,877Lowest 12% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51.9%±4.8 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% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
12.7%±1.8 CT: 16% |
| Monroe and Danbury 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 | #120 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT | #137 of 149 in CT |
| School district | New Haven School District · West Haven School District | Monroe School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Danbury School District |
| High school in town | West Haven High School | Masuk High School | Danbury High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.6 |
12.8Lowest |
15.7Highest |
| 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.