Compare towns

Windham vs Monroe vs West Haven

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Monroe has the highest household income ($157k).
West Haven has the shortest commute (23 min average).

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.

MeasureWindhamMonroeWest Haven
People
Population
23,961
18,949Lowest
55,351Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
0%
CT: +0.9%
Median age
33.7±1.9Lowest
18% below CT
43.5±2.2Highest
6% above CT
35.8±1.5
13% below CT
Kids under 18
20.1%±2.4Lowest
CT: 20.2%
25.2%±3Highest
CT: 20.2%
20.3%±1.9
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+
14.3%±1.9Lowest
CT: 18.5%
15.6%±2
CT: 18.5%
16%±1.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
West Haven and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.7%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
57.3%Highest
CT: 42.5%
30.5%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
15.2%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.1%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
13.6%±1.6
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
$55,736±$5kLowest
42% below CT
$157,250±$12kHighest
64% above CT
$74,382±$5k
22% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$209,800±$9kLowest
43% below CT
$503,200±$31kHighest
37% above CT
$291,700±$9k
20% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,107±$69
26% below CT
$994±$860Lowest
33% below CT
$1,442±$43Highest
3% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,633Lowest
30% below CT
$10,000+Highest
at least 51% above CT
$6,941
4% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±8.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
48.8%±46.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
53.4%±5.8
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
20.7%Highest
CT: 10%
2.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
14.1%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
47.4%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
95.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
50.6%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
11 yrs older than CT
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
1959
8 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
8% below CT
34 minHighest
29% above CT
23 minLowest
14% below CT
Work from home
6.1%±1.7Lowest
CT: 16%
15.4%±3.3Highest
CT: 16%
9.2%±1.4
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #143 of 149 in CT #48 of 149 in CT #120 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Monroe School District New Haven School District · West Haven School District
High school in town Windham High School Masuk High School West Haven High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Lowest
12.8
15.6Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.