PlainRelocate

Relocation profile · Federal data

New Haven, CT

BEA RPP 104.6 ranks #356 of 387 scored metros for higher prices (dearer third).

104.6
Cost index (US=100)
$1,969
2BR rent / mo
$78,194
Median salary
56.5
LiveAbility Score

The verdict

As of June 2026, New Haven ranks #98 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (56.5/100), with its strongest marks in low hazard and job market.

#98
of 387 US metros · Above median
3,675,069
metro-area population
139
violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
1,005
schools in the state (NCES)

Weakest dimension: cost of living (8/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.

According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), New Haven ranks #98 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 104.6 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,969/mo, median salary $78,194; LiveAbility Score 56.5/100, strongest in low hazard and job market.

Signature: BEA RPP 104.6 ranks #356 of 387 scored metros for higher prices (dearer third).

Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP 104.6 lands in the dearer third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,969/mo.

LiveAbility 56.5/100 puts New Haven in the top third (#98 of 387).

BLS OEWS total employment in the New Haven area is 261,300.

New Haven vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score

Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)

57 Top 26% higher than 74% of 387 US metros

Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026

New Haven housing and rent

HUD Fair Market Rents for the New Haven MSA; housing RPP 124.3 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,969/mo.

Studio
$1,372
/month
1 Bedroom
$1,591
/month
2 Bedroom
$1,969
/month
3 Bedroom
$2,433
/month
4 Bedroom
$2,872
/month

New Haven wages and employment

New Haven posts 261,300 total employment with median salary $78,194 against a dearer-than-average RPP.

Median Salary
$78,194
Mean Salary
$82,796
Total Employment
261,300

Top Occupations by Employment

Occupation Median Salary
Registered Nurses $104,490
Stockers and Order Fillers $43,840
Home Health and Personal Care Aides $39,720
Retail Salespersons $35,950
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners $37,890

Schools & Education

State-level education data for the New Haven area from NCES.

Schools
1,005
Enrollment
491,941
Student:Teacher
12.1:1
Title I %
0%

Childcare Costs

State-average childcare costs for the New Haven area (DOL data).

Infant (Center)
$17,127
per year
Toddler (Center)
$17,127
per year
Preschool (Center)
$13,559
per year

Life Score Breakdown

New Haven's composite Life Score is 39.9/100 (F), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.

Cost
8/100
Bottom decile
Wages
94/100
Elite
Rent
9/100
Bottom decile
Crime
90/100
Elite
Schools
10/100
Bottom decile
Childcare
10/100
Bottom decile
Environment
27/100
Weak

LiveAbility Score

View full rankings →

New Haven ranks #98 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 56.5/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →

Strongest dimension: Low hazard (99/100)

New Haven - dimension scores

Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)

score

What this shows New Haven's strongest dimensions are low hazard and job market; its weakest among scored dims is cost of living at 8/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.

Source BEA · BLS · HUD · FBI · NCES · EPA · NOAA · FEMA As of Federal data, latest available vintage

Compare New Haven to

McAllen-Edinburg-Mission Medford Memphis Merced Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach Michigan City-La Porte

Metros near New Haven on cost, LiveAbility, or wages

Nearest out-of-state neighbors to New Haven on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.

Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)

Similar LiveAbility score

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026

New Haven cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; New Haven wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.

Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →

Thinking about New Haven?

New Haven runs a $78,194 median salary at a 104.6 cost index, ranking #98 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.

  • See exactly what New Haven's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
  • Put New Haven head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare New Haven
  • Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
  • A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide

Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.