States › Connecticut › West Haven

Is West Haven, CT expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 29 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,95211% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$80,221about $6,685/month · 8% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$291,70012% lower than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 66% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.6 years of household income.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $78,080 a year. That is $38 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Connecticut cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Connecticut. It is number 34 of 64 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

West Haven
$1,952
Milford
$2,723
East Hartford
$1,671
Meriden
$2,106
Bristol
$1,464
West Hartford
$2,274
Middletown
$1,705

How much do households earn in West Haven?

Under $25k
13.3%
$25k–50k
20.7%
$50k–100k
35.6%
$100k–150k
15.2%
$150k+
8.7%

Share of households by yearly income. 24.0% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in West Haven

SizeWest HavenU.S. average
Studio$1,178$1,338
1 bedroom$1,380$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,669$1,509
3 bedrooms$2,101$1,698
4 bedrooms$2,102$2,098

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is West Haven overall?

Everyday prices in Connecticut overall are 4% above the U.S. average (index 103.6, U.S. = 100).

Housing
117
Goods (food, clothes…)
97
Utilities
146
Other services
103
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for West Haven, so the Connecticut figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in West Haven

🏛️ Property tax$6,941a year · 2.38% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$171a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in West Haven

Commute to work22.9 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree30.5%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home50.6%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line14.1%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment7.3%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in West Haven?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $72 a month less.

Renting
$1,952
Owning
$2,024

Owning assumes a typical $291,700 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $29,170 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in West Haven, CT?

Renting in West Haven costs a median of about $1,952 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Connecticut median is $1,920.

How much do I need to make to live in West Haven?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $78,080 a year, or $38 an hour at a full-time job.

Is West Haven cheap or expensive?

West Haven is rated OK: rent takes 29.2% of the typical household income of $80,221. It ranks 34th cheapest of 64 Connecticut cities we track.

How much are property taxes in West Haven?

The median homeowner in West Haven pays $6,941 a year in property taxes, about 2.38% of the median home value.

Is West Haven more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Connecticut are 4% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in West Haven?

The median home value in West Haven is $291,700, about 3.6 times the typical yearly household income.

55,351 people live in West Haven. Numbers are typical (middle) values.