City Report · CT

New Haven

Pop. 134,349·34th most expensive in Connecticut·Rental market data updated monthly for New Haven, CT

Median rent (all units)

$1,972/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.1%

Month-over-Month

Stable

vs US Median

+$40

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

New Haven · $1,972

More expensive than 59% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Rent Reality Score

54/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 2% below what New Haven's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,972/mo

Expected by trend

$2,015/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where New Haven's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,502

1 BR

$1,616

2 BR

$1,974

3 BR

$2,452

4 BR+

$2,768

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$1,974/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,972 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

December. Asking rents in New Haven usually run 1.1% below trend in December and 0.9% above it in June, about $39 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in New Haven is 0% below its high of $1,972 in August 2026, at $1,972 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Connecticut

Rent in New Haven changed +2.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 41 Connecticut cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.7%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in New Haven rose 45.3% while median household income rose 34.6% ($42,222 to $56,851). Rent outpaced income.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in New Haven is 49.1% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($56,851) is $1,421 a month. That is less than HUD's Fair Market Rent for a studio ($1,502).

Spread across ZIP codes

The priciest of 5 ZIP codes in New Haven, 06510 ($2,399/mo), costs 36% more than the cheapest, 06513 ($1,759/mo).

Cheaper nearby

Waterbury, 18 miles away, rents for 21% less ($1,551/mo), about $5,100 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for New Haven. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$23,664/yr

At $1,972/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (2.1% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.1% YoY, +0.0% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

New Haven, CT is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 38.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

134,349

Median income

$56,851

Median age

31.9

Renters

71.6%

Age distribution

21.3%

33.9%

23.9%

Under 1821.3%

18–3433.9%

35–5423.9%

55–649%

65+11.8%

Gender

47.8%

52.2%

Male47.8%

Female52.2%

Race & ethnicity

35.1%

29.5%

31%

White35.1%

Black29.5%

Hispanic31%

Asian5.3%

Education (25+)

12.6%

29.8%

18.7%

38.9%

No HS diploma12.6%

HS diploma29.8%

Some college18.7%

Bachelor's+38.9%

Housing tenure

28.4%

71.6%

Owner28.4%

Renter71.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How New Haven, CT has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,365 → $1,972

up 44.5%

Income

$48,973 → $56,851

up 16.1%

Population

133,874 → 134,349

up 0.4%

Renter share

72% → 71.6%

-0.4 pts

Bachelor's+

36.5% → 38.9%

+2.4 pts

Median age

30.7 → 31.9

+1.2 yrs

The median rent in New Haven, CT stood at $1,365 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,972, reflecting a 44.5% increase over the period. Household income in the area moved from $48,973 to $56,851 across the same window, up 16.1% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 38.9% of adults here, versus 36.5% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in New Haven, CT look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

Discussions about New Haven

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View New Haven rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in New Haven on your salary?

At $1,972/mo, how New Haven rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $103,928/yr · Rent = 22.8% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $73,788/yr · Rent = 32.1% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $84,997/yr · Rent = 27.8% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $151,921/yr · Rent = 15.6% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $194,117/yr · Rent = 12.2% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $69,091/yr · Rent = 34.3% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $62,381/yr · Rent = 37.9% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $76,890/yr · Rent = 30.8% income

stretched

By apartment size

New Haven rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in New Haven. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in New Haven

About renting in New Haven, CT

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in New Haven is $1,972/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,502/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,974/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,616/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,452/mo.

At 42% of local median household income ($56,851/yr), New Haven ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in New Haven?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $79,000/year (about $38/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,972/mo in New Haven. The local median household income is $56,851/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in New Haven?

Rent in New Haven has risen 2.1% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0% below its high of $1,972 in August 2026.

When is the cheapest time to rent in New Haven?

Asking rents in New Haven are usually lowest in December, about 1.1% below their yearly trend, and highest in June, about 0.9% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $39 a month. This pattern comes from 11 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in New Haven?

Yes. From 2019 to 2024, rent in New Haven rose 45.3% while median household income rose 34.6%, from $42,222 to $56,851. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

Which New Haven neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in New Haven are 06513 ($1,759/mo), 06519 ($1,903/mo), and 06511 ($1,924/mo). Citywide, the median rent is $1,972/mo.

How does New Haven rent compare to other cities in Connecticut?

New Haven is in the middle among Connecticut cities for rent, ranking #34 of 54 tracked cities at $1,972/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in New Haven changed +2.1%, against a typical +3.7% across the 41 Connecticut cities Zillow tracks.