City profile · Connecticut · Census ACS 2023

West Haven, CT

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for West Haven - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

55,147
Residents
$73,566
Median income
$265,200
Median home
$1,969
Median rent (state)

West Haven - the verdict

West Haven ranks in the 54th percentile for household income and the 51st percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

54th
percentile, household income
59th
percentile, home value
82nd
percentile, median rent
51st
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: West Haven, CT

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 55,147 residents in West Haven, a small city within Connecticut. Median household income here is $73,566 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 8.5%. Typical homes in West Haven are valued around $265,200, and the median resident age is 36.0 years. About 29.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 60.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 29 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 49% from five years earlier. West Haven reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 1342.5 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Connecticut carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 103.6 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,969 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $345 across Connecticut, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 95.1 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

55,147 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Connecticut

Median Household Income

$73,566 /yr

Poverty 8.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.6 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Connecticut average

How does West Haven compare to other US cities?

Where West Haven sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 54% higher than other cities
Home value 59% pricier than other cities
Median rent 82% pricier than other cities
Safety 51% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Connecticut alone, West Haven ranks #23 of 46 Connecticut cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares West Haven against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Connecticut only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Connecticut-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places West Haven toward the top of Connecticut's cities

Among the 204 Connecticut cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, West Haven ranks #40 - the 80th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares West Haven only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#158 of 198
20th percentile in Connecticut
Median Gross Rent
#80 of 207
56th percentile in Connecticut
Median Home Value
#148 of 201
26th percentile in Connecticut
Poverty Rate
#40 of 204
80th percentile in Connecticut
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#161 of 207
22nd percentile in Connecticut

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Connecticut only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

54thIncome percentile
51stSafety percentile

54th percentile nationally for median household income · 51st percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

West Haven's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

West Haven's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 45 Avg. percentile National median
West Haven's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How West Haven's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$265,200 41st percentile more affordable than 41% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. West Haven $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - West Haven, CT West Haven, CT's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not West Haven, CT-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution West Haven, CT median $73,566/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
West Haven, CT's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for West Haven, CT. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 29.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 8.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 60.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
55,147
Median Income
$73,566
Median Home Value
$265,200
Median Age
36.0
Poverty Rate
8.5%
Labor force participation
60.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
29.0%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1342.5
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
104.4
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1238.1
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
10
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
55,000 residents55,200 residents55,400 residents55,600 residents 202020212022202320242025 55,508 residents 55,351 residents ▼ -0.3%
West Haven's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
29
housing units authorized
Single-Family
23
detached homes
Multifamily
6
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 57
2020 11
2021 9
2022 8
2023 19
2024 29

Permit volume decreased 49% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
73.6%
Carpool
10.9%
Public Transit
3.4%
Walk
2.4%
Work from Home
8.6%
Other
1.1%

Based on 25,881 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Connecticut - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$175
avg/month
Natural Gas
$110
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$60
avg/month
Total Utilities
$345
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Connecticut state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Connecticut state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county West Haven sits in

Cost of Living Index
103.6
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,969/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
95.1 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Connecticut

East Hartford
50,798 people
Milford city (balance)
50,749 people
Meriden
60,418 people
Bristol
61,129 people
Middletown
47,646 people
West Hartford
63,809 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to West Haven's 55,147 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

South Whittier, CA
55,201 people
Chicopee, MA
55,213 people
Valdosta, GA
55,222 people
Smyrna, TN
55,066 people
Bozeman, MT
55,042 people
Perth Amboy, NJ
55,278 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to West Haven's $73,566 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Emily, MN
$73,563 median income
Fairfield Glade, TN
$73,569 median income
Onaway, ID
$73,571 median income
Hammond, IL
$73,571 median income
Epworth, IA
$73,571 median income
Kandiyohi, MN
$73,571 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - West Haven, CT Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition West Haven, CT - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 51.4% 19.6% 13.0% 10.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 26.5% White 51.4% Black or African American 19.6% Asian 5.0% American Indian 0.6% Native Hawaiian 0.2% Some other race 13.0% Two or more races 10.3% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How West Haven compares to nearby Connecticut cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
West Haven (this city) 55,147 $73,566
East Hartford 50,798 $66,943
Milford city (balance) 50,749 $110,126
Meriden 60,418 $68,617
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CT FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about West Haven, CT?

What is the population of West Haven, CT? +

West Haven, CT has a population of 55,147 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in West Haven, CT? +

The median household income in West Haven is $73,566 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in West Haven? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for West Haven; the closest available measure is the Connecticut state average, a cost of living index of 103.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Connecticut vary by metro area.

Is West Haven, CT safe? +

West Haven has a total crime rate of 1342.5 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in West Haven, CT? +

Homes in West Haven carry a median value of $265,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.