The New Haven metro area: New Haven County · Population 867,469 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in the New Haven area
Household size in the New Haven area
| Period | New Haven area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.55 | 2.57 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.60 | 2.61 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.55 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.53 | 2.55 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.02 | −0.02 | −0.03 |
Households in the New Haven area run a little small, averaging 2.53 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Connecticut comes in at about the same level. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the center.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in the New Haven area
| Period | New Haven area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.4 | 40.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.3 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.4 | 42.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.7 | 42.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.3 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
The New Haven area skews a little older than the country: its median age is 41.7, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 39.4 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. The New Haven area is older than at least four in five large metro areas.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in the New Haven area
| Period | New Haven area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.7% | 11.2% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.4% | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.0% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.5% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit more common in the New Haven area than nationally: 13.5%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 0.8 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell. The New Haven area has a higher share of single-parent households than the great majority of large metro areas.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in the New Haven area
Renters in the New Haven area
| Period | New Haven area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.7% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 36.8% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.2% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 37.6% | 33.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.9 pts | +2.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nearly four in ten households in the New Haven area rent their homes (37.6%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Renters make up a bigger share here than in Connecticut overall (33.5%). Among homeowners, 37.7% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share has risen 2.9 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in the New Haven area
| Period | New Haven area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.1% | 8.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.8% | 10.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.0% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in the New Haven area than nationally: 8.0%, against 9.6% for the U.S. The figure for Connecticut is much the same. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 1.2 points, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in the New Haven area
| Period | New Haven area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1961 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1961 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1961 | 1964 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1964 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +4 | +6 |
The New Haven area is a place of older homes: half were built before 1964, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Newer construction is concentrated in the east, while the south has the oldest housing. Few large metro areas have older homes: only six of 100.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in the New Haven area
| Period | New Haven area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,093 | $1,127 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,175 | $1,218 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,288 | $1,380 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,584 | $1,702 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$491 | +$575 | +$606 |
The median renter in the New Haven area pays $1,584 a month for rent and utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents here are lower than in Connecticut overall ($1,702). Rent has climbed $491 a month since 2006–10, up 45%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 32.4% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in the New Haven area
Bachelor's degrees in the New Haven area
| Period | New Haven area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.6% | 35.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 33.1% | 37.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.5% | 39.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 38.5% | 42.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.9 pts | +6.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Nearly four in ten adults 25 and older in the New Haven area (38.5%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share is lower than in Connecticut overall (42.3%). The share with a degree has risen 6.9 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in the New Haven area
| Period | New Haven area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.4% | 88.1% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.4% | 89.2% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.6% | 90.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.6% | 91.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | +3.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in the New Haven area have finished high school as nationally: 90.6%, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 3.2 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in the New Haven area
| Period | New Haven area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.5% | 7.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.7% | 9.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.7% | 6.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.4% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little harder to find in the New Haven area than nationally: unemployment was 6.4%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.2 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Largest cities in the New Haven area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Haven area (all) | 2.53 | 41.7 | 13.5% | 37.6% | 8.0% | 1964 | $1,584 | 38.5% | 90.6% | 6.4% |
| Waterbury | 2.59 | 37.9 | 23.2% | 52.8% | 9.8% | 1958 | $1,299 | 18.1% | 81.5% | 9.5% |
| Hamden | 2.52 | 40.8 | 11.1% | 38.1% | 9.0% | 1964 | $1,652 | 48.4% | 94.4% | 5.9% |
| Meriden | 2.52 | 40.2 | 18.0% | 40.1% | 9.0% | 1959 | $1,450 | 21.2% | 85.0% | 7.8% |
| West Haven | 2.59 | 38.0 | 13.5% | 49.5% | 5.9% | 1959 | $1,488 | 31.7% | 88.2% | 7.5% |
| Milford | 2.38 | 46.2 | 6.7% | 24.4% | 7.7% | 1965 | $2,066 | 50.5% | 96.5% | 4.6% |
| Naugatuck | 2.55 | 40.7 | 12.8% | 32.2% | 5.2% | 1967 | $1,333 | 33.4% | 91.9% | 5.0% |
| East Haven | 2.41 | 46.4 | 9.9% | 30.1% | 7.7% | 1962 | $1,693 | 31.8% | 91.4% | 4.9% |
| Cheshire | 2.63 | 45.4 | 6.6% | 13.7% | 5.6% | 1974 | $1,428 | 60.4% | 94.1% | 3.8% |
| Wallingford | 2.51 | 46.3 | 7.8% | 17.5% | 5.5% | 1976 | $1,575 | 42.8% | 96.7% | 3.4% |
| North Haven | 2.62 | 44.6 | 6.3% | 18.5% | 3.5% | 1968 | $1,860 | 47.7% | 95.6% | 1.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: Columbia area · Sarasota area · Oxnard area · Allentown area · Worcester area · El Paso area · Baton Rouge area · McAllen area · Albany area · Knoxville area
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up the New Haven area. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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