Should I Move To
West Haven, Connecticut is home to about 55,336 people. On cost of living, it lands in the expensive band — 22% above the national average. The median renter pays around $1,322 a month against a typical household income of $72,827. Our composite UrbRank Score lands at 57 out of 100 (grade C), putting it at #229 nationally.
UrbRank Score · General
Each dimension scored 0-100 against every other US city.
Based on overall cost of living vs. other US cities.
Temperate summers & winters, moderate precipitation.
Walk Score — how feasible daily errands are on foot.
Unemployment rate plus household income vs. national median.
Air quality index (EPA AQS data).
Share of residents 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
West Haven's composite cost-of-living index lands at 122 (100 = US average), which puts it in the expensive band. At $1,322/mo against $72,827 in median household income, the typical renter spends about 22% of income on housing — right inside the standard 30%-of-income guideline. Median home value sits around $247,800.
Full cost-of-living breakdown →Climate is four-season — summer averages around 83°F, winter averages around 30°F. Precipitation totals about 50 inches a year. Some neighborhoods are walkable; others aren't. A car is useful, but not required everywhere. Air quality reads good (AQI 38).
Verdict by lifestyle profile — same data, different priorities.
West Haven doesn't obviously fit families. It earns 51/100 (grade C-) on the families profile. Strongest on climate (88/100); weakest on job market (21/100).
West Haven reads as a moderate fit for retirees. It earns 65/100 (grade C+) on the retirees profile. Strongest on climate (88/100); weakest on job market (21/100).
West Haven reads as a moderate fit for remote workers. It earns 61/100 (grade C+) on the remote workers profile. Strongest on climate (88/100); weakest on job market (21/100).
West Haven doesn't obviously fit young professionals. It earns 48/100 (grade D) on the young professionals profile. Strongest on climate (88/100); weakest on job market (21/100).
West Haven, Connecticut pulls a 57/100 overall on the UrbRank Score (grade C), currently ranked #229 nationally. The composite weights seven lifestyle dimensions: affordability, safety, climate, walkability, jobs, environment, and education.
West Haven's cost-of-living index is 122 (with 100 as the US average), which lands in the expensive band — 22% above the national average. Median rent runs about $1,322/mo.
Four-season — summer averages around 83°F, winter averages around 30°F, with about 50 inches of precipitation a year.
Walk Score: 66/100. Some neighborhoods are walkable; others aren't. A car is useful, but not required everywhere.
West Haven has about 55,336 residents, 27% of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher with a median age of 36.
Use UrbRank's comparison tool to put West Haven head-to-head against any other US city — housing, salaries, demographics, and quality-of-life metrics side by side. The leaderboard pages also show how West Haven stacks up for families, retirees, remote workers, and young professionals specifically.
Every US city is scored 0-100 on seven dimensions using public data from the US Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA Air Quality System, NOAA NCEI, and Walk Score. Each dimension is a percentile rank against every other city — so a score of 80 means the city is in the top 20% nationally on that dimension.
The overall score is a weighted average. Five lifestyle profiles — general, families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals — weight the dimensions differently to reflect what each cares about. Families get more weight on safety and schools; young professionals get more weight on jobs and walkability; retirees get more weight on climate.
Compare West Haven with other Connecticut cities scored on UrbRank.
Take the 2-minute UrbRank quiz to get a personalized ranking of US cities based on your priorities — cost, climate, commute, jobs, and more.