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Moving to
East Haven.
East Haven is an unincorporated community in the county, CT. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
What it's like to live in East Haven
East Haven is an unincorporated community in Connecticut with home prices that remain within reach, household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. East Haven deals with a population that has been shrinking, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, cold winters, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Shrinking population
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How East Haven compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to East Haven
Based on East Haven's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,056
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $61,120 a year
- 55% of East Haven renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$58,840
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $29,420
- Homes cost 3.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,528/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,528 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $294,200. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $294,200 · 55% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.1% county unemployment
Unemployment in South Central Connecticut Planning Region is 4.1%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
South Central Connecticut Planning Region (county-wide)
Safety▼ 74% below US
86 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1726/100k · East Haven Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
24 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 24.1 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 9% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 80°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 25°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 28% below US
26% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 26%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
8 public schools inside the boundary
There are 8 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Weir Farm National Historical Park (30 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
East Haven's strongest points are home prices that remain within reach and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are a population that has been shrinking and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin. A year of median rent ($1,528/mo) equals 19% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near East Haven
All Connecticut guides →Moving to New Haven →
4 mi away · pop. 134,349
Rent $1,488/mo · Income $56,851
Compare with East Haven →Moving to West Haven →
5 mi away · pop. 55,351
Rent $1,442/mo · Income $74,382
Compare with East Haven →Moving to North Haven →
8 mi away · pop. 24,336
Rent $1,720/mo · Income $132,689
Compare with East Haven →Not sure East Haven is the one?
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