Is West Haven, CT a Good Place to Live?
West Haven is a mid-sized city of 55,336 in Connecticut, with a median household income of $72,827 and a 7.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.
Strengths: West Haven stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether West Haven is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All West Haven city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 98.3West Haven's overall cost of living index is 98.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in West Haven costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.
| Metric | West Haven, CT | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $247,800 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,322 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $72,827 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeWest Haven's violent crime rate is 104.4 per 100,000 residents — 73% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
West Haven is served primarily by West Haven School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | West Haven, CT | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | West Haven School District | — |
| Elementary Schools | 6 | — |
| Middle Schools | 2 | — |
| High Schools | 1 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 12.1:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 87.4% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
West Haven sees average highs of 38.1°F in January and 82.1°F in July, with 41.8 inches of annual precipitation and 33.6 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | West Haven, CT |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 38.1°F |
| Average High — July | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" |
Demographics
| Metric | West Haven, CT | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 55,336 | — |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 23.2 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 56.5% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 17.7% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 17.6% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 3.7% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 14.6% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in West Haven
West Haven, CT is covered by 1 ZIP code: