Wondering how far your dollar stretches in New Haven compared to Bridgeport? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| New Haven | Metric | Bridgeport | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 116 | Cost of Living Index | 142 | +22.4% |
| $295,000 | Median Home Price | $440,000 | +49.2% |
| $1,550 | Median Monthly Rent | $1,750 | +12.9% |
| $68,200 | Median Household Income | $84,600 | +24.0% |
| 2.1% | Property Tax Rate | 2.1% | +0.0% |
| 4.3% | Unemployment Rate | 4.0% | -7.0% |
| 25 min | Average Commute | 33 min | +32.0% |
| 33 | Median Age | 40.2 | +21.8% |
| 870,000 | Metro Population | 980,000 | +12.6% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in New Haven costs $2,094/month (PITI) compared to $3,123/month in Bridgeport — a difference of $1,029/month or $12,348/year. The price-to-income ratio is 4.3x in New Haven versus 5.2x in Bridgeport, suggesting New Haven is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 5.8 years to save a down payment in New Haven compared to 6.9 years in Bridgeport.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | New Haven | Bridgeport |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $68,200 | $84,600 |
| State Income Tax | $2,176 | $3,078 |
| Federal Income Tax | $6,453 | $10,061 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $5,217 | $6,472 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $6,195/yr | $9,240/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 6.3% | 6.3% |
| Total Tax Burden | $13,846 (20.3%) | $19,611 (23.2%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $54,354 | $64,989 |
On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $13,846 in New Haven (20.3% effective) versus $19,611 in Bridgeport (23.2% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $54,354 in New Haven and $64,989 in Bridgeport. Property taxes add $6,195/year on the median New Haven home versus $9,240/year in Bridgeport.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $68,200 in New Haven (COL 116) and relocate to Bridgeport (COL 142), you would need $83,486 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you would need a raise of $15,286 to maintain the same standard of living in Bridgeport.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in New Haven is 25 minutes versus 33 minutes in Bridgeport, a difference of 8 minutes each way. Bridgeport's lower unemployment rate of 4.0% versus 4.3% suggests a stronger job market. Bridgeport skews slightly older with a median age of 40.2 vs 33 in New Haven.
Bridgeport is 22.4% more expensive than New Haven overall. Bridgeport has a cost of living index of 142 compared to 116 for New Haven (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing: the median home costs $440,000 in Bridgeport vs $295,000 in New Haven.
The median home price in Bridgeport is $440,000, which is $145,000 more than New Haven's median of $295,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $1,750/month in Bridgeport vs $1,550/month in New Haven, a difference of $200/month or $2,400/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $68,200 salary in New Haven is equivalent to $83,486 in Bridgeport. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: New Haven's COL index of 116 vs Bridgeport's 142. Conversely, $84,600 in Bridgeport equals $69,110 in New Haven.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $13,846 (20.3% effective rate) in New Haven vs $19,611 (23.2% effective rate) in Bridgeport. Property taxes on the median home are $6,195/year in New Haven (2.1% rate) vs $9,240/year in Bridgeport (2.1% rate). Sales tax rates are 6.3% in Connecticut and 6.3% in Connecticut.
New Haven median household income: $68,200/yr. Bridgeport median household income: $84,600/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $1,550 in New Haven vs $1,750 in Bridgeport. Annualized that is $18,600 vs $21,000.
New Haven offers a lower cost of living (index 116 vs 142), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Bridgeport typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
New Haven and Bridgeport numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The New Haven vs Bridgeport cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .