Living in West Haven, Connecticut
West Haven is a shoreline city on Long Island Sound directly southwest of New Haven, separated from it by the West River and from Milford by the Oyster River. It has about 3.5 miles of publicly accessible beach, roughly a quarter of Connecticut's public shoreline access. Settled in 1648 as part of the New Haven Colony, it split from Orange to become its own town in 1921 and incorporated as a city in 1961.
West Haven at a glance
- 25.58 millsReal estate tax rate, fiscal year 2026–27
- 10–15 minDrive to New Haven
- New HavenCounty · South Central Connecticut
West Haven's villages and zip codes
West Haven primarily uses zip code 06516.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| West Haven Center | 06516 | The city's downtown area near City Hall and the West Haven Green. |
| Allingtown | 06516 | A hilly neighborhood in the northern part of the city, home to the University of New Haven. |
| Savin Rock | 06516 | A shoreline neighborhood along Long Island Sound, site of a former beachfront amusement park and now a public promenade. |
West Haven covers about 10.92 square miles and borders Orange, New Haven and Milford. It was incorporated in 1921.
Things to do in West Haven, CT
Start with Savin Rock and Bradley Point Veterans Memorial Park, then 1 more below.
Savin Rock
A shoreline promenade and park along Long Island Sound, on the site of a former beachfront amusement park that operated into the 20th century.
Savin Rock, West Haven
Bradley Point Veterans Memorial Park
A 20-acre waterfront park that opened in 1984, with beach access and shoreline views.
Bradley Point, West Haven
Sandy Point
A beach and bird sanctuary extending east into New Haven Harbor.
West Haven
More worth a visit
- Old Grove ParkA city park with waterfront green space.
A little history
The area was settled in 1648 as West Farms and remained part of the New Haven Colony until 1822.
West Haven split from Orange to become its own town in 1921 and incorporated as a city in 1961, making it one of Connecticut's newest cities despite being among its oldest settlements.
Savin Rock was once home to a large beachfront amusement park that drew visitors from around the region before it closed in the mid-20th century.
Parks, trails and outdoors in West Haven
West Haven's roughly 3.5 miles of public beach along Long Island Sound make its waterfront parks the main outdoor draw.
- Savin RockA shoreline promenade and beach park.
- Bradley Point Veterans Memorial ParkA 20-acre waterfront park with beach access.
- Sandy PointA beach and bird sanctuary reachable at low tide.
Walkability and getting around West Haven
The Savin Rock shoreline and West Haven Center have sidewalks and a walkable mix of businesses. Allingtown and other inland neighborhoods are more car-dependent.
Allingtown
Savin Rock
Drive times
- New Haven, about 4 miles10–15 min
- Tweed New Haven Regional Airport, about 5 miles10–15 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
Metro-North's New Haven Line serves the West Haven station, which opened in 2013 with about 660 parking spaces. Connecticut Transit New Haven runs several local bus routes, including Routes 261, 265, 268 and 271.
West Haven property taxes and home prices
West Haven's 2026–27 mill rate is 25.58, which is $25.58 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed value. Some areas also pay a fire or special district tax on top of that. Connecticut taxes a home at 70% of its appraised value, so every $100,000 of value costs about $1,791 a year in taxes at 25.58 mills.
What homes in West Haven sell for
| 12 months ending | Single-family | Condo |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2024 | $340,000289 sales | $185,00077 sales |
October to September, state records. Text us for this month's sales.
West Haven's mill rate for 2026–27
25.58mills, fiscal year 2026–27
- Town of West Haven25.58 mills
- First Fire Taxation District ( First Center ) (where it applies)+10.90 mills
- Fire District 3 - Allingtown Fire District (where it applies)+8.83 mills
- Fire District 2 - West Shore (where it applies)+7.78 mills
- Lake Phipps Taxing District (where it applies)+3.464 mills
- Motor vehicles25.58 mills
- Next revaluationOctober 1, 2029
How West Haven's mill rate has changed
| Fiscal year | Town rate |
|---|---|
| 2022–23 | 34.00 |
| 2023–24 | 34.81 |
| 2024–25 | 36.57 |
| 2025–26 | 25.58 |
| 2026–27 | 25.58 |
West Haven's town rate went from 34.00 in 2022–23 to 25.58 in 2026–27. Next revaluation: October 1, 2029.
Look up a West Haven property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
Buying a home in West Haven
What we check on a West Haven purchase: CHFA limits, the flood map and coastal flood zones.
First-time buyer programs in West Haven
CHFA sets West Haven's income and price limits for New Haven County. We check them with you before you shop.
See CHFA's limits mapCheck the flood zone first
West Haven's roughly 3.5 miles of Long Island Sound shoreline, including Savin Rock, Bradley Point and Sandy Point, puts significant coastal area in FEMA-mapped flood zones. The West River and Oyster River add inland flood risk near the New Haven and Milford lines. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for West HavenFlood insurance on the shoreline
Shoreline neighborhoods including Savin Rock and areas near Bradley Point sit in FEMA-mapped flood zones. Ask about flood zone designation and flood insurance cost before making an offer near the water.
All loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and property and program requirements. CHFA and USDA limits and eligibility are set by those agencies and change from time to time.
Thinking about buying in West Haven?
Send us a West Haven address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to West Haven: utilities, trash and town offices
Who to call in West Haven: United Illuminating for power.
- ElectricUnited Illuminating
- Natural gasSouthern Connecticut Gas
- WaterSouth Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority
- Sewer or septicPublic sewer serves most of West Haven's developed area.
- Trash and recyclingThe city provides curbside trash and recycling collection on a scheduled basis; check the city's published schedule for your street.
Town offices and contacts
West Haven Town Hall. Each link opens that office's page on the town's website.
West Haven, CT FAQ: taxes, prices and town services
The short answers. Call or text us for the long ones.
What is the mill rate in West Haven, CT?
West Haven's 2026–27 mill rate is 25.58, which is $25.58 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed value. Some areas also pay a fire or special district tax on top of that. The motor vehicle rate is 25.58 mills.
How much are property taxes on a $500,000 home in West Haven?
Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of appraised value, so a $500,000 home would be assessed at about $350,000. At 25.58 mills that's about $8,953 a year, or about $746 a month, before any district tax. The actual bill depends on the town assessor's appraisal, not the price you pay.
When is West Haven's next revaluation?
West Haven's next revaluation takes effect October 1, 2029, on the state's schedule. The new assessments first show up on the tax bills due in July 2030.
What county is West Haven in?
West Haven is in New Haven County, part of the South Central Connecticut planning region.
What zip code does West Haven use?
West Haven primarily uses zip code 06516.
Is there train service in West Haven?
Yes. West Haven has its own Metro-North New Haven Line station, which opened in 2013.
How far is West Haven from New Haven?
New Haven is about 4 miles away, roughly 10–15 minutes by car.
What is Savin Rock?
Savin Rock is a shoreline neighborhood and public promenade on the site of a former beachfront amusement park.
Towns near West Haven
Neighbors of West Haven in New Haven County and nearby. All New Haven County towns.
Sources
- Mill rates: Connecticut Office of Policy and Management, "Mill Rates for FY 2014–2027," data.ct.gov. Revaluation year: OPM, Revaluation Schedule 2023–2037.
- Home sales: "Real Estate Sales 2001–2024 GL," data.ct.gov. Medians use West Haven sales recorded October 1 to September 30, leaving out sales the town flagged as non-market.
- West Haven, Connecticut - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- File:West Haven City Hall 109.JPG - Wikimedia Commons: commons.wikimedia.org
- Walkability: Walk Score®, Bike Score® and Transit Score®, provided live by Walk Score.
- Photo: Pedro Xing, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.