West Haven Green Historic District · Photo: The original uploader was Polaron at English Wikipedia. · CC BY 2.5Within Connecticut, West Haven is healthier than 11% of graded towns
West Haven differs from Connecticut on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 16 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for West Haven. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in West Haven
Connecticut sets a high bar
West Haven is healthier than 54% of U.S. towns, but only 11% of the 154 Connecticut towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
More West Haven adults lack emotional support
3 in 10 adults lack social or emotional support (28%), vs 25.1% across Connecticut. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 17.6%, vs 15.8% across Connecticut. Mind & connection ↓
Making ends meet is harder in West Haven
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (19.4%), vs 14.9% across Connecticut. Utility shut-off threats (11.5% vs 8.4%) and housing insecurity (17% vs 12.5%) are higher too. 16% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11.7% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in West Haven
65% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 70.7% across Connecticut. Among those 65 and older, 13.4% have lost all their teeth (Connecticut 9.8%). Checkups ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Connecticut figure falls outside West Haven’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
What’s behind West Haven’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Haven is healthier than 54% of U.S. towns, #137 of 154 in Connecticut. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 73% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 25%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). West Haven’s median household income is $74,382; among the 10,847 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($56K–$93K), it’s healthier than 62%, about where its income would put it.
How West Haven adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, West Haven runs above Connecticut.
4 in 10 West Haven adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
16% of West Haven adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Connecticut.
Keeping up with care
Share of West Haven adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Connecticut.
Out of every 100 West Haven adults…
West Haven runs below CT on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near West Haven
1 hospital and 1 community health center in West Haven, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of West Haven; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Connecticut
Share of adults, with the Connecticut figure marked.
9.9 miles of trails across 17 parks and preserves
West Haven and the towns around it
West Haven’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 4 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Haven | B− | 35.7% | 11.2% | 12.3% | CDC place |
| Milford | — | — | — | — | |
| New Haven | C+ | 37.9% | 11.7% | 13.2% | CDC place |
| Orange | — | — | — | — | |
| Orange | A+ | 27.6% | 9% | 7.4% | ZIP 06477 |
| Woodmont | A | 29.9% | 9.2% | 8.5% | CDC place |
Milford: no CDC estimate of its own. Orange: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of West Haven adults live with a disability (Connecticut 25.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for West Haven
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, West Haven is better than Connecticut on 1 and worse on 16; on the rest, the Connecticut figure falls inside West Haven’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | West Haven | CT | U.S. | vs CT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.5%16.8–20.5 | 16.2% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.6%12.3–14.9 | 12.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.6%16–19.3 | 15.8% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.7%31.4–40.2 | 30.5% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 11.2%10.1–12.5 | 10.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 33.6%31–36.2 | 32% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.3%34.6–40.1 | 38.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24%22–26.1 | 24.7% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.4%10.2–12.6 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7%6.4–7.6 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6%5.4–6.6 | 5.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.1%5.5–6.7 | 5.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.4%3.2–3.7 | 3.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.4%11.4–15.9 | 9.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.3%10.9–13.9 | 10.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 29.6%26.6–32.8 | 25.1% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.2%12.4–16.2 | 15.4% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.9%36–44.1 | 35.8% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.8%10.4–13.4 | 10% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.5%76.9–81.9 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65%62.2–67.8 | 70.7% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.2%85.6–88.7 | 89.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.3%71.9–76.7 | 76.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71%67.8–74.4 | 72.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.4%73.7–83 | 79.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.8%18.5–23.2 | 20.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.6%33.3–40.1 | 33.2% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28%25.3–31 | 25.1% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 19.4%17.4–21.6 | 14.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17%15.2–18.9 | 12.5% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.5%10.2–12.8 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.8%9.7–12.1 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16%14.2–18 | 11.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.4%25.7–31.2 | 25.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.7%11.5–14 | 11.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.4%12.9–15.9 | 12.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.7%5.1–6.3 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.8%5.3–6.3 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.1%7.4–9 | 7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.1%3.8–4.4 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Connecticut figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in West Haven
Is West Haven a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Haven is healthier than 54% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #137 of 154 in Connecticut. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 62%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in West Haven?
CDC estimates 35.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.4% and 40.2%, against 30.5% across Connecticut and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to West Haven?
Yale-New Haven Hospital in New Haven, 3.5 miles in a straight line from West Haven’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in West Haven have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.4–13.4%), against 10% across Connecticut.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in West Haven more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in West Haven.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Connecticut figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.