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Living in
West Haven.
About
Life in West Haven
If you're considering West Haven, you're looking at a solidly middle-class coastal Connecticut city that offers real waterfront access without the premium pricing of nearby communities. The Metro-North station opened in 2013 gives you a genuine commute option to New York City—your average commute sits at 24 minutes, which is very workable. That said, this is a fully urban environment with zero rural character; it's dense residential and commercial areas all the way through.
West Haven at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.1%
Foreign-Born
21.1%
Broadband Internet
92.9%
of households
Population Growth
-0.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics21.1% foreign-born, most often from Ecuador
Who lives in West Haven: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In West Haven, the largest foreign-born group is from Ecuador (8.9%), and 18.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.3%
of residents
65 and Older
16.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.3%
of households
Married Couples
37.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.47
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for CT
Rent, home values, and income in West Haven
In West Haven, home values are 20% below the CT average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
104.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,941
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
50.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1959
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $362,817 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts above CT average
Unemployment in West Haven
Unemployment in West Haven is 0.6 percentage points higher than the CT average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What West Haven Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute22.9 min avg
How West Haven residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In West Haven, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 73% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
Tweed New Haven Airport (HVN)
Small hub738k passengers boarded in 2025
- 48 mi
Bradley International Airport (BDL)
Medium hub3.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 59 mi
LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
Major hub16.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 80% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in West Haven runs 80% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
65
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
890.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
West Haven Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
In New Haven County, which includes West Haven, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $80,000 |
| 2024 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $469,000 |
| 2023 | 12 | Flash Flood | $19,000 |
| 2022 | 13 | Winter Weather | $36,000 |
| 2021 | 14 | Flash Flood | $309,000 |
| 2020 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $21.1M |
| 2019 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $176,000 |
| 2018 | 21 | Winter Weather | $588,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
New Haven County, county-wide
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in New Haven County, which includes West Haven, is typically good — 245 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
245
per year
Moderate Days
107
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
New Haven County, county-wide
Climate80°F summers, 25°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
West Haven has mild summers (avg high 80°F) and cold winters (avg low 25°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
41°/25°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
41.8"
Annual Snowfall
33.6"
Hot Days/Year
6
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
102
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
124
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 23°F | 2.72" |
| Feb | 40°F | 24°F | 2.84" |
| Mar | 47°F | 30°F | 3.66" |
| Apr | 58°F | 39°F | 4.19" |
| May | 68°F | 49°F | 3.54" |
| Jun | 76°F | 59°F | 3.47" |
| Jul | 82°F | 66°F | 3.36" |
| Aug | 81°F | 65°F | 3.55" |
| Sep | 75°F | 57°F | 4.03" |
| Oct | 64°F | 46°F | 3.78" |
| Nov | 53°F | 36°F | 3.12" |
| Dec | 44°F | 29°F | 3.53" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in West Haven
West Haven has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
7.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
West Haven VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Yale-new Haven Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.6 mi away · New Haven
Connecticut Mental Health Center
Psychiatric · 2.7 mi away · New Haven
The Connecticut Hospice Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · 7.1 mi away · Branford
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education11.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in West Haven
West Haven's student/teacher ratio is 11.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 30.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
30.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in West Haven
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,841 students · in-state tuition $49,320 · 63% graduate · median earnings $69,320 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 6,758 students · in-state tuition $69,900 · 98% graduate · median earnings $118,356 (10 yrs after entry)
Southern Connecticut State University
4.2 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 6,295 students · in-state tuition $13,438 · 57% graduate · median earnings $59,695 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,534 students · in-state tuition $35,760 · 60% graduate · median earnings $56,082 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 991 students · in-state tuition $43,118 · 55% graduate · median earnings $62,459 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Weir Farm National Historical Park, 25 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for West Haven
West Haven has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Weir Farm National Historical Park (25 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Weir Farm National Historical Park
National Historical Park
25 mi awaySagamore Hill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
38 mi awayFire Island National Seashore
National Seashore
40 mi awaySaint Paul's Church National Historic Site
National Historic Site
52 mi awayEleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
National Historic Site
59 mi awayHamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
60 mi awayHome Of Franklin D Roosevelt National Historic Site
National Historic Site
60 mi awayGeneral Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
61 mi awayPublic Libraries in West Haven
West Haven Public Library
300 Elm St., West Haven
Ora Mason Branch Library
260 Benham Hill Road, West Haven
Cities Near West Haven
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to West Haven?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
West Haven FAQ
Is West Haven, Connecticut affordable?⌄
West Haven's median rent is $1,442/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $74,382/year. Median home value is $291,700.
Is West Haven, Connecticut safe?⌄
West Haven's violent crime rate was 65 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 891 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in West Haven, Connecticut?⌄
West Haven has an unemployment rate of 4.6%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in West Haven, Connecticut?⌄
The cost of living in West Haven is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,442/month and median household income is $74,382/year. The median home value is $291,700. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in West Haven, Connecticut?⌄
The average commute in West Haven is 23 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from