Signals
West Haven
Derby
Opportunity
27 · Bottom 4%
vs28 · Bottom 5%
Growth
22 · Bottom 10%
vs32 · Bottom 20%
Climate
65 · Bottom 36%
vs65 · Bottom 36%
Housing affordability
78 · Bottom 45%
vs88 · Top 35%
Access
75 · Bottom 17%
vs76 · Bottom 17%
Economic stability
56 · Bottom 41%
vs62 · Top 47%
Measured values
| Metric | West Haven | Derby | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 55,351 | 12,487 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $74,382 | $79,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $35,740 | $46,280 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 5,149/sq mi | 2,470/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $291,700 | $256,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,442 | $1,452 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 50.6% | 61.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.6% | 6.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -4.6% | -5.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.5% | 35.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 14.1% | 10.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 17 | 2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.3 | 0.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -43.3% | -98.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 23°F | 23°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 41.8" | 41.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 48 mi | 47 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 28.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.8 | 46.4 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 10 | 5 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 11.75 | 10.48 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 56.5% | 55.9% | 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.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
West Haven
54
Your Score
—
Area Score
Derby
59
Your Score
—
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: West Haven, CT · Derby, CT · How this is calculated: methodology