Census tract · South Central Connecticut Planning Region
Census Tract 1542, South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut
Census Tract 1542, GEOID 09170154200, in South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut, entirely within West Haven. 7,051 residents in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±880); the 2020 Census counted 6,767.
Residents, 2020-2024
7,051
±880 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 6,767
Median household income
$64,179
±$7,874 (90% margin)
South Central Connecticut Planning Region: $88,197
Median home value
$288,700
±$47,568 (90% margin)
South Central Connecticut Planning Region: $353,100
Median gross rent
$1,392
±$97 (90% margin)
South Central Connecticut Planning Region: $1,525
Where is Census Tract 1542?
Census Tract 1542 is one of 136 census tracts in South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut. It covers 1.20 square miles of land, 5,625 residents per square mile in 2020. Its GEOID, 09170154200, names it uniquely (how tract numbers and GEOIDs work).
| Place | Share of the tract |
|---|---|
| West Haven | 100% |
5 census tracts border Census Tract 1542: Tract 1541.02 ($75,991), Tract 1546 ($69,591), Tract 1547 ($124,423), Tract 1571 ($101,944) and Tract 3615 ($43,356). The figure in brackets is each tract's median household income.
Whether a tract counts as low- or moderate-income for bank lending (the Community Reinvestment Act) is set by the FFIEC against its metro area's family income: look it up in the FFIEC census geocoder.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 block assignment files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Census Tract 1542?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Census Tract 1542's population at 7,051 (±880) in 2,635 households; the 2020 Census counted 6,767 residents and 2,815 housing units.
| Measure | Tract 1542 | West Haven |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | 7,051 ±880 | 55,351 |
| Households | 2,635 ±271 | 20,938 |
| Average household size | 2.67 ±0.24 | 2.47 |
| Housing units | 2,753 ±242 | 21,973 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Census Tract 1542?
The median resident of Census Tract 1542 is 38.6 years old; 22.6% are under 18 and 16.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 35.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 31.0%. 36.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Tract 1542 | West Haven |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.6 ±3.3 | 35.8 |
| Under 18 years | 22.6% ±4.3 pts | 20.3% |
| 65 years and over | 16.5% ±3.6 pts | 16.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 31.0% ±11.5 pts | 27.4% |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 35.8% ±10.9 pts | 43.5% |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 23.9% ±6.0 pts | 19.7% |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 5.8% ±4.4 pts | 5.3% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.6 pts | 0.1% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.6 pts | 0.1% |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.0% ±1.3 pts | 2.8% |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 2.5% ±3.8 pts | 1.1% |
| Born outside the United States | 36.4% ±7.7 pts | 21.1% |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 56.4% ±9.7 pts | 32.1% |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.5% ±2.2 pts | 4.6% |
| With a disability | 10.5% ±3.4 pts | 11.0% |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.6% ±3.0 pts | 7.9% |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 84.1% ±5.0 pts | 87.8% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 20.4% ±8.2 pts | 30.5% |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.7% ±5.4 pts | 12.9% |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 94.4% ±4.3 pts | 84.8% |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Census Tract 1542 earn?
Half of the 2,635 households in Census Tract 1542 earn less than $64,179 a year (±$7,874), against $88,197 across South Central Connecticut Planning Region: 99th highest of the county's 135 tracts with a reliable estimate. 9.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Tract 1542 | West Haven |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $64,179 ±$7,874 | $74,382 |
| Mean household income | $84,783 ±$10,964 | $93,406 |
| Per capita income | $31,782 ±$4,213 | $35,740 |
| People below the poverty line | 9.4% ±4.9 pts | 14.1% |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 13.8% ±11.4 pts | 16.7% |
| Households receiving SNAP | 19.3% ±7.5 pts | 17.3% |
| Households with a computer | 94.2% ±5.0 pts | 94.9% |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 91.9% ±5.1 pts | 92.9% |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Census Tract 1542?
Owners occupy 36.9% of Census Tract 1542's occupied homes and renters 63.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $288,700 by its owner (±$47,568). The median renter pays $1,392 a month including utilities, and 38.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Tract 1542 | West Haven |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $288,700 ±$47,568 | $291,700 |
| Median gross rent | $1,392 ±$97 | $1,442 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 38.7% ±14.0 pts | 46.1% |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,172 ±$287 | $2,223 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 36.9% ±6.1 pts | 50.6% |
| Renter-occupied homes | 63.1% ±6.1 pts | 49.4% |
| Housing units | 2,753 ±242 | 21,973 |
| Single-family detached homes | 29.6% ±5.7 pts | 46.2% |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±1.5 pts | 0.6% |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±1.5 pts | 0.1% |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.2% ±4.2 pts | 2.3% |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 4.4% ±3.9 pts | 26.0% |
| Households with no vehicle | 12.0% ±6.6 pts | 10.9% |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Census Tract 1542 get to work?
73.7% of Census Tract 1542's workers drive alone and 5.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.6 minutes.
| Measure | Tract 1542 | West Haven |
|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 67.8% ±6.1 pts | 64.1% |
| Unemployment rate | 7.0% ±5.3 pts | 7.3% |
| Drove alone to work | 73.7% ±7.6 pts | 72.6% |
| Carpooled | 16.3% ±5.7 pts | 11.9% |
| Public transportation | 2.6% ±2.9 pts | 3.0% |
| Walked | 0.8% ±1.4 pts | 2.6% |
| Worked from home | 5.5% ±3.6 pts | 9.2% |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.6 min ±3.4 | 22.9 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Census Tract 1542 compare with the other tracts in South Central Connecticut Planning Region?
Among South Central Connecticut Planning Region's tracts with a reliable estimate, Census Tract 1542 ranks as shown below (1 = highest).
| Measure | In South Central Connecticut Planning Region | In West Haven |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 7th of 135 | 2nd of 11 |
| Residents per square mile | 42nd of 135 | 6th of 11 |
| Median household income | 99th of 135 | 8th of 11 |
| Per capita income | 105th of 135 | 8th of 11 |
| Median home value | 79th of 126 | 4th of 11 |
| Median gross rent | 91st of 118 | 8th of 10 |
| Poverty rate | 56th of 86 | 9th of 10 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 116th of 135 | 11th of 11 |
| Median age | 83rd of 135 | 5th of 11 |
| Owner-occupied share | 101st of 130 | 8th of 11 |
The tracts next to it on South Central Connecticut Planning Region's income ladder
| Tract | Rank | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 1549 | 96th | $67,022±$19,023 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 1660.03 | 97th | $66,615±$26,408 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 1715 | 98th | $65,682±$8,697 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 1542 | 99th | $64,179±$7,874 |
| Tract 1545 | 100th | $63,815±$11,995 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 1404 | 101st | $63,556±$20,689 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 1415 | 102nd | $63,047±$14,013 · within the margin of this tract |
"Within the margin": the two incomes differ by less than their combined 90% margins, so the survey cannot say which is higher and the ranks between them are not firm.
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Census Tract 1542?
1 of the 18 figures for Census Tract 1542 on this page carries a coefficient of variation over 40% and is marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
A census tract's figures rest on a few hundred sampled households over five years, so its margins are wider than a city's. Two tracts differ only when the gap between them is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins). How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · Check it at data.census.gov
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections