What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Haven has the most homeowners (50.6%).

New Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.3%).

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	New Haven
People
Population	55,351Lowest	134,349Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Lowest CT: +0.9%	+3.3%Highest CT: +0.9%
Median age	35.8±1.5Highest 13% below CT	31.9±0.5Lowest 22% below CT
Kids under 18	20.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 20.2%	21.3%±1Highest CT: 20.2%
	New Haven and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5%	11.8%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.5%Lowest CT: 42.5%	38.9%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1%	14.9%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1%
	New Haven and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,382±$5kHighest 22% below CT	$56,851±$4kLowest 41% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$291,700±$9kHighest 20% below CT	$287,100±$16kLowest 22% below CT
	West Haven and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,442±$43Lowest 3% below CT	$1,488±$33Highest about the CT average
	New Haven and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,941Highest 4% above CT	$6,430Lowest 3% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.4%±5.8Lowest CT: 52.6%	56.6%±3.2Highest CT: 52.6%
	New Haven and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.1%Lowest CT: 10%	23.9%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	50.6%Highest CT: 66.5%	28.4%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Highest 8 yrs older than CT	1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 14% below CT	22 minLowest 19% below CT
Work from home	9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16%	13.9%±1.6Highest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#120 of 149 in CT	#145 of 149 in CT
School district	New Haven School District · West Haven School District	Common Ground High School District · Elm City Montessori School District
High school in town	West Haven High School	Wilbur Cross High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.6Highest	13.7Lowest
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.