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New Haven vs West Haven

New Haven, Connecticut versus West Haven, Connecticut: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.

Overall livability

New Haven

Mixed · objective livability41/100

West Haven

Mixed · objective livability44/100

New Haven and West Haven score about the same overall (41 vs 44 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.

Factor-by-factor comparison

FactorNew HavenWest Haven
Affordability
Median Household Income$54k$73k
Cost of Living$60k$60k
Home Value$237k$248k
Monthly Rent$1k$1k
Monthly Owner Costs$15k$11k
Property Tax Rate2.56%2.71%
Income Tax6.90%6.90%
Sales Tax6.35%6.35%
Estimated total tax burden20.13%18.20%
Unemployment7.8%7.9%
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)30°F30°F
Summer Temp (Jul)74°F74°F
Annual Precipitation41.8 in41.8 in
Annual Snowfall33.6 in33.6 in
Sunny Days237 days237 days
Summer Humidity64°F64°F
Comfortable Days101 days100 days
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk34.353.3
Air Quality51 AQI51 AQI
School Quality100.0100.0
Violent Crime3023/100k800/100k
Property Crime3109/100k2073/100k
Community
Population135,73655,336
Median Age31.036.1
Racial Diversity0.710.63
Male/Female Ratio0.890.96
Political LeaningD+18D+18
White (%)32.2%49.7%
Black (%)28.0%16.2%
Hispanic (%)30.7%26.7%
Asian (%)5.0%3.6%
Other / Multiracial (%)4.1%3.9%
Getting Around
Commute Time22 min23 min
Walkability7.8/207.8/20
Airport Distance46 mi48 mi
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access88.5%92.0%
Amenities Nearby39.2796.32
Park & Nature AccessModerateModerate

Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.

Frequently asked questions

Is New Haven or West Haven more affordable?
West Haven has the lower cost of living: its index is $60k, compared with New Haven's $60k and West Haven's $60k. Median rent is $1k in New Haven versus $1k in West Haven.
Is New Haven or West Haven safer?
West Haven has the lower violent crime rate. New Haven reports 3023/100k and West Haven reports 800/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
Are homes cheaper in New Haven or West Haven?
The median home value is $237k in New Haven and $248k in West Haven, so homes are more affordable in New Haven.
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