What it's like to live in Milford
Milford is a smaller city in Connecticut with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, a highly educated workforce, 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. Milford deals with rent well above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, cold winters, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Milford compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Milford
Based on Milford's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,764
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $75,280 a year
- 50% of Milford renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$83,040
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $41,520
- Homes cost 3.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 33% above US
$1,882/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,882 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $415,200. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $415,200 · 50% 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▼ 79% below US
71 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 1776/100k · Milford Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
25 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 25.3 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 18% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 81°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 27°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 40% above US
50% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
14 public schools inside the boundary
There are 14 public schools inside the boundary and 6 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11:1, 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 (21 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Milford's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin. A year of median rent ($1,882/mo) equals 20% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (18% of workers here already work from home), and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
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