Compare towns
West Haven vs Windham vs Chaplin vs Milford
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Chaplin has the most homeowners (82.9%).
Milford has the most expensive homes ($417k median).
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 | Windham | Chaplin | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 55,351Highest |
23,961 |
2,070Lowest |
52,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | -1.4%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 35.8±1.5 13% below CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
46.6±1.4Highest 13% above CT |
| Milford and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±1.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.2%±1.4 CT: 20.2% |
| West Haven and Windham 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% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Milford and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.5% CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
50.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.6%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Windham 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±$5k 22% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$110,669±$7kHighest 16% above CT |
| Milford and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,700±$9k 20% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$416,800±$9kHighest 14% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,442±$43 3% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,882±$80Highest 26% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941Highest 4% above CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$6,694 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51.3%±7.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham 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% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
5.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.6% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
75.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1965 2 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
25 min 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.4 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±1.8 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Milford 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | — | #98 of 149 in CT |
| School district | New Haven School District · West Haven School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Milford School District |
| High school in town | West Haven High School | Windham High School | Parish Hill High School | Jonathan Law High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.6Highest |
9.8 |
7.5Lowest |
10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.