Compare towns
West Haven vs Windham vs Plainfield vs New Haven
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 expensive homes ($292k median).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
New Haven has the most renters (71.6% rent).
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 | Plainfield | New Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 55,351 |
23,961 |
15,141Lowest |
134,349Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | +3.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 35.8±1.5 13% below CT |
33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
37±4.5Highest 10% below CT |
31.9±0.5Lowest 22% below CT |
| Plainfield and West Haven 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% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest 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%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
11.8%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainfield 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% CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
38.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.6%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
14.9%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Windham and New 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 |
$76,993±$8kHighest 20% below CT |
$56,851±$4k 41% below CT |
| Plainfield 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±$9kHighest 20% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$287,100±$16k 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±$43 3% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% 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 |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,430 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
56.6%±3.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and New 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% CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.6% CT: 66.5% |
47.4% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
28.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
22 minLowest 19% below CT |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.4 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
13.9%±1.6Highest CT: 16% |
| New Haven and Plainfield 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #145 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 | Plainfield School District | Common Ground High School District · Elm City Montessori School District |
| High school in town | West Haven High School | Windham High School | Plainfield High School | Wilbur Cross High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.6Highest |
9.8Lowest |
10.3 |
13.7 |
| 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.