10 Best Coastal Towns in New England
Looking to live by the water? Explore other coastal cities in New England.
History and culture are woven throughout New Haven, a beautiful city on the New Haven Harbor nicknamed “Elm City.” This waterfront oasis is the proud home to Yale University, the city’s educational, artistic, and cultural centerpiece. This Ivy League university was founded in 1701, making it the third-oldest university in the country. New Haven itself dates back to 1638, offering a sense of historic charm and picturesque architecture for today’s residents.
Downtown New Haven is the oldest section of the city, featuring the original nine squares laid out by the settlers. Enjoy the New Haven Green, the center square that covers 16 acres for beautiful landscaping and a sense of history that’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This green space is home to an array of festivals, concerts, and community events. With such a dense history and a close-knit community, New Haven offers a fascinating blend of architectural styles, ranging from gothic churches to sleek, modern office buildings.
As of March 2025, the average apartment rent in New Haven, CT is $1,811 for a studio, $2,092 for one bedroom, $2,382 for two bedrooms, and $2,603 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in New Haven has increased by 2.8% in the past year.
The cost of living in New Haven, CT is 8.5% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in New Haven is 5.3% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,811 - $2,603. You can expect to pay 0.2% more for groceries, 37.8% more for utilities, and 4.6% more for transportation.
Looking to live by the water? Explore other coastal cities in New England.
Experience all New Haven offers without breaking the bank. Explore our detailed guide to moving to New Haven on a budget.
Open to exploring your options? Discover other great cities in Connecticut with our detailed guide.
Very Walkable
out of 100 WalkScore® Rating
If you enjoy walking, you’ll enjoy renting in this area! It’s a very walkable neighborhood.
Good Transit
out of 100 TransitScore® Rating
The area around this property has good transit with many nearby transportation options.
Very Bikeable
out of 100 BikeScore® Rating
This area is very bikeable. You’ll find a variety of bike paths and lanes.
Public
Grades K-8
371 Students
Barack H. Obama Magnet University School
Public
Grades PK-4
311 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
507 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
483 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
480 Students
Public
Grades K-8
371 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
507 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
483 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
480 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
476 Students
Metropolitan Business High School
Public
Grades 9-12
405 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
557 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
336 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,633 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,139 Students
11
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2,933
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14
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15
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1,944
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7
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20
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1,834
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16
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72
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18,850
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51
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† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2025.