Best Places to Live

New Haven, Connecticut

| Overall Score 6.2 / 10
| Overall Score 6.5 / 10
A large brick home in New Haven
Historic town homes in New Haven
Buses along the South Green
Businesses near Yale University
View All 24 Photos »

What's it like to live in New Haven, CT?

Ross Levin

Profile written by local expert:

Ross Levin

New England charm and global cosmopolitanism combine in this small, livable seaside metropolitan area. Centuries-old architecture houses the galleries, concert venues and coffee shops that help make New Haven the cultural capital of Connecticut.

Yale University also undoubtedly adds to New Haven's charms. The Ivy League cultural institution has attracted artists, innovators, politicians and celebrities since the 1700s. The university's presence grants area residents easy access to art, theater and college sports. The region is also known for its cuisine, with high-end restaurants rubbing elbows with classic New Haven-style pizza joints and grilled cheese trucks.

New Haven is home to one of the most walkable city centers between New York City and Boston, as well as idyllic rural homes for those who love peace and quiet.

Rankings

U.S. News analyzed 125 metro areas in the United States to find the best places to live based on quality of life and the job market in each metro area, as well as the value of living there and people's desire to live there.

New Haven, Connecticut is ranked:

#95 in Best Places to Live

#68 in Best Places to Retire

#19 in Most Expensive Places to Live

6.2

Overall

Scorecard

Best Places to Live

  • Desirability
    5.6
  • Value
    5.2
  • Job Market
    7.1
  • Quality of Life
    7.0
  • Net Migration
    5.2

Read how we rank places

New Haven, CT Quick Stats

  • 862,127

    Metro Population

  • $55,450

    Average Annual Salary

  • 60.6° / 43.7°

    Avg High/Low Temps

  • 40.1

    Median Age

  • $204,475

    Median Home Price

  • 47.1 inches

    AVG Annual Rainfall

  • 4.1%

    Unemployment Rate

  • $1,100

    Median Monthly Rent

  • 24.9 minutes

    Avg Commute Time

What is there to do in New Haven, CT?

Downtown New Haven is filled with cultural attractions. Highly rated restaurants, nightclubs and music venues are packed on the weekends, while charming independent shops line the brick-paved streets downtown, providing daytime diversions.

New Haven – more specifically, Yale University – is also home to a number of noteworthy museums and art galleries, including the Yale University Art Gallery, the Yale Center for British Art and the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History. Those who love to read will enjoy spending time in the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, while locals looking for a breath of fresh air head straight to East Rock Park, which features beautiful views of the metro area.

Nearby vacation towns line the coast, and even after their beaches empty for the cold New England winter, many of their museums, theaters and quaint main streets remain open.

What's the cost of living in New Haven, CT?

Some expenses in New Haven, including transportation, health care and utilities, are higher than the national average. Yet housing costs are lower than the national cost, and the cost of living remains fairly consistent with the rest of Connecticut. New Haven remains more affordable than nearby New York City and Boston. 

Value Index

Index Score: 5.2 /10

How we calculate this.

New Haven offer a lower value than similarly sized metro areas when you compare housing costs to median household income.

Housing Costs 2018

New Haven
$204,475

USA
$227,025

Find a Top Agent »

Housing Costs Over Time

Data sourced from Zillow median home sale price data series. Additional data provided by the Austin Board of Realtors, Houston Association of Realtors, Intermountain MLS, Omaha Area Board of Realtors, San Antonio Board of Realtors, and the Salt Lake Board of Realtors.

Buying or selling a home? Find top real estate agents in New Haven, CT.

What's the weather like in New Haven, CT?

New England is famous for its bright autumn foliage, and New Haven is no exception. Also like the rest of the region, New Haven succumbs to snow and deep cold each winter, while summer brings comfortably warm temperatures that encourage residents to enjoy the nearby seaside.

Seasonal Temperature (Avgs)

32.8°F


Winter

49.2°F


Spring

71.8°F


Summer

54.9°F


Fall

Seasonal Rainfall (Avgs)

3.6 in


Winter

4.4 in


Spring

4.0 in


Summer

4.4 in


Fall

Monthly High and Low Temperatures (°F)

Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center.

What's the best way to get around New Haven, CT?

Those who live close to the city center can rely on their own two feet to get around. Meanwhile, the local bus system offers more than two dozen routes throughout New Haven County. The Metro-North Railroad is the most trafficked rail line in the country, and it's just one of several options for tourists, commuters and anyone else traveling between New Haven and New York City. And a new commuter rail line is slated to be ready in 2018 and will connect New Haven; Hartford, Connecticut; and Springfield, Massachusetts.

Even with an expanding array of transit options, a car is indispensable for many residents – particularly those who live outside the downtown area. Yet commuting by car is hardly unpleasant, with the average commute coming in at just over 24 minutes.

Tweed New Haven Airport offers flights to more than 130 destinations, including New York City, Baltimore and Boston. But most residents choose to travel an hour to fly out of Bradley International Airport in Hartford, as it offers more flight options. New Haven is also serviced by Greyhound and Amtrak.

Commuting in New Haven, CT

Means of Transportation
Driving
87%
Equal to national average
Bicycling
1%
Equal to national average
Walking
4%
Equal to national average
Public Transit
4%
Equal to national average
Average Commute Time

24.9 minutes

1.5 minutes less than national average

Average Commute Times by Zip Code

Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Who lives in New Haven, CT?

During the school year, well over a quarter of New Haven's residents are students at Yale. The school's impact, including both students and staff, on the composition of the metro area cannot be overstated.

But not everyone who lives in New Haven is gunning for a college degree. Roughly 16 percent of the population is older than 65, and under a third of households are made up of families with kids.

Although New Haven was founded as a Protestant colony, about half of the population does not identify with a religion. Still, Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims and those with other religious beliefs have a home here.

Age Distribution

Marital Status Breakdown

More single people in New Haven than
national average

Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Previous: Photos
Next: Job Market