East Haven, CT vs Wallingford Center, CT

Wallingford Center is moderately more affordable than East Haven, with a 5.2% lower cost of living index. East Haven scores 102 compared to 97 for Wallingford Center, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of East Haven can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in East Haven is $1,454/month compared to $1,243/month in Wallingford Center — a 17% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Wallingford Center has cheaper rent, East Haven actually has lower median home values ($274,900 vs $292,100).

Median household income in East Haven is $86,498 compared to $84,554 in Wallingford Center (+2.3%). East Haven does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of East Haven spend roughly 20.2% of their income on rent, more than the 17.6% in Wallingford Center.