Signals
New Haven
Bridgeport
Opportunity
22 · Bottom 2%
vs19 · Bottom 1%
Growth
40 · Bottom 32%
vs34 · Bottom 22%
Climate
65 · Bottom 36%
vs70 · Bottom 48%
Housing affordability
47 · Bottom 9%
vs54 · Bottom 14%
Access
77 · Bottom 19%
vs75 · Bottom 17%
Economic stability
41 · Bottom 19%
vs52 · Bottom 34%
Measured values
| Metric | New Haven | Bridgeport | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 134,349 | 149,153 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $56,851 | $58,685 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $36,242 | $33,024 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 7,188/sq mi | 9,285/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $287,100 | $274,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,488 | $1,450 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 28.4% | 42.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 6.0% | 6.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -4.6% | -4.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.9% | 23.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 23.9% | 21.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 274 | 103 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.0 | 0.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -21.7% | -82.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 23°F | 24°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 41.8" | 44.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 45 mi | 49 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.6 min | 32.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 31.9 | 36.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 50 | 46 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.00 | 15.18 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 71.5% | 84.2% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
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New Haven
49
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Bridgeport
51
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Full profiles: New Haven, CT · Bridgeport, CT · How this is calculated: methodology