Rents are 8% below what West 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 $1,919 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
September. Asking rents in West Haven usually run 0.9% below trend in September and 0.9% above it in April, about $35 a month apart at today's median. Based on 8 years of data.
Rent in West Haven is 1.6% below its high of $1,951 in April 2026, at $1,919 as of September 2026.
Rent in West Haven changed +1.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 41 Connecticut cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.7%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in West Haven rose 51.9% while median household income rose 18.1% ($62,985 to $74,382). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in West Haven is 58.7% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 5 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($74,382) is $1,860 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,780); a 3-bedroom is $2,210.
Waterbury, 20 miles away, rents for 19% less ($1,551/mo), about $4,400 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for West 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.
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Who lives here
West Haven, CT is roughly split between renters and owners, 30.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How West Haven, CT has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in West Haven, CT has increased from $1,334 to $1,919, a 43.9% change over five years. Household income in the area moved from $66,868 to $74,382 across the same window, up 11.2% 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 30.5% of adults here, versus 26.1% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in West Haven, CT look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in West Haven on your salary?
At $1,919/mo, how West Haven rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
West Haven rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in West Haven. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in West Haven
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in West Haven is $1,919/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,350/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,780/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,460/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,210/mo.
At 31% of local median household income ($74,382/yr), West Haven ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than West Haven?
At $1,919/mo, rent takes ~31% of West Haven's median household income ($74,382/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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