ZIP Code · CT

ZIP 06516

Part of West Haven, CT

Pop. 55,351·New Haven County·56th most expensive ZIP in Connecticut

Median rent (all units)

$1,910/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.0%

Month-over-Month

-0.8%

vs US Median

-$22

Reported rents

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 06516 · $1,910

More expensive than 56% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,340

1 BR

$1,560

2 BR

$1,930

3 BR

$2,380

4 BR+

$2,820

Research median

$1,930/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

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

September. Asking rents in ZIP 06516 usually run 0.9% below trend in September and 0.9% above it in April, about $34 a month apart at today's median. Based on 8 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 06516 is 1.6% below its high of $1,941 in April 2026, at $1,910 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Connecticut

Rent in ZIP 06516 changed +1.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 64 Connecticut ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.7%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 06516 rose 51.6% while median household income rose 18.1% ($62,985 to $74,382). Rent outpaced income.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 06516 is 58.4% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 5 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($74,382) is $1,860 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,560); a 2-bedroom is $1,930.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 06516. 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

$22,920/yr

At $1,910/mo median

Location

CityWest Haven

StateCT

CountyNew Haven County

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.0% YoY, -0.8% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 06516 (West Haven, CT) is roughly split between renters and owners, 30.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

55,351

Median income

$74,382

Median age

35.8

Renters

49.4%

Age distribution

20.3%

28.8%

22.9%

12.1%

16%

Under 1820.3%

18–3428.8%

35–5422.9%

55–6412.1%

65+16%

Gender

48.5%

51.5%

Male48.5%

Female51.5%

Race & ethnicity

47.2%

20.9%

27.4%

White47.2%

Black20.9%

Hispanic27.4%

Asian5.6%

Education (25+)

12.2%

32.9%

24.4%

30.5%

No HS diploma12.2%

HS diploma32.9%

Some college24.4%

Bachelor's+30.5%

Housing tenure

50.6%

49.4%

Owner50.6%

Renter49.4%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 06516 in West Haven, CT has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,331 → $1,910

up 43.5%

Income

$66,868 → $74,382

up 11.2%

Population

55,518 → 55,351

down 0.3%

Renter share

49.6% → 49.4%

-0.2 pts

Bachelor's+

26.1% → 30.5%

+4.4 pts

Since 2021, the typical rent in ZIP 06516 in West Haven, CT has increased from $1,331 to $1,910, a 43.5% change over five years. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $66,868 in 2021 to $74,382 more recently. 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. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 06516 in West Haven, CT market of 2021.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 06516

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 06516 covers West Haven, CT. The median rent here is $1,910/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,560/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,930/mo.

At 31% of local median household income ($74,382/yr), ZIP 06516 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 06516?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $76,000/year (about $37/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,910/mo in ZIP 06516. The local median household income is $74,382/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 06516?

Rent in ZIP 06516 has risen 1.0% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 1.6% below its high of $1,941 in April 2026.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 06516?

Asking rents in ZIP 06516 are usually lowest in September, about 0.9% below their yearly trend, and highest in April, about 0.9% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $34 a month. This pattern comes from 8 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 06516?

Yes. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 06516 rose 51.6% while median household income rose 18.1%, from $62,985 to $74,382. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 06516 compare to other ZIPs in Connecticut?

ZIP 06516 is one of the more affordable among Connecticut ZIP codes for rent, ranking #56 of 83 at $1,910/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 06516 changed +1.0%, against a typical +3.7% across the 64 Connecticut ZIP codes Zillow tracks.