Rents are 3% below what East Haven's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,294 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in East Haven is 1% below its high of $2,318 in July 2026, at $2,294 as of September 2026.
Rent in East Haven changed +2.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 41 Connecticut cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.7%.
Rent has fallen 2 months in a row, and rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($94,628) is $2,366 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,250); a 4-bedroom is $2,540.
New Haven, 4 miles away, rents for 14% less ($1,972/mo), about $3,900 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for East Haven. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
East Haven, CT is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 25.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How East Haven, CT has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in East Haven, CT paid around $1,979 a month. That figure now sits near $2,294, up 15.9% from the 2023 baseline. Median household income climbed from $74,238 to $94,628 between 2021 and 2024, a 27.5% shift. With wages climbing faster than rent over the same window, renters here have a bit more breathing room than they did five years back. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 22.4% to 25.8% across the same window. Taken together, the five-year picture in East Haven, CT reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.
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Can you afford rent in East Haven on your salary?
At $2,294/mo, how East Haven rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
East Haven rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in East Haven. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in East Haven
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in East Haven is $2,294/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,380/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,810/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,480/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,250/mo.
At 29% of local median household income ($94,628/yr), East Haven ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in East Haven?
Is rent going up or down in East Haven?
How does East Haven rent compare to other cities in Connecticut?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than East Haven?
At $2,294/mo, rent takes ~29% of East Haven's median household income ($94,628/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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