New Haven, CT Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in New Haven, CT: What You Need to Know

New Haven in south-central Connecticut is famous as the home of Yale University. It’s a coastal city located on the northern shore of Long Island Sound. 

The Local History

In 1638, English Puritans led by John Davenport and Theophilus Eaton settled in the Quinnipiac area. They renamed it New Haven in 1640, most likely after Newhaven, England. In 1643, the town combined with adjacent towns to form the New Haven colony. It was absorbed by the Connecticut colony in 1665. New Haven served as the state’s co-capital with Hartford from 1701 to 1875. During the Civil War, New Haven was one of the Connecticut cities that served as an entry point for fugitive slaves working their way to Canada.

Schools and Higher Education

Yale University (13,433 students), founded in 1701, is one of the best universities in the world. Its acclaimed research centers and laboratories are advancing knowledge on fields ranging from Alzheimer’s disease and autism to climate change and green engineering. Yale faculty and researchers have won eight Nobel Prizes over the years. There are three other universities in New Haven and 57 colleges within 50 miles of the city. The public school system consists of 44 public schools with an enrolment of 22,911 students.

The Cost of Living in New Haven

When it comes to living expenses, New Haven (population: 130,250) is on a par with other Northeastern cities. Its cost of living rate, food, and housing costs are 26.8%, 9.8%, and 14.1% higher than the national average respectively. The city’s median gross rent is $1,179 while the median rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $1,930. Connecticut’s progressive state income tax ranges from 3% to 6.99%. The state levies a 6.35% sales tax. 

Know Your Neighborhoods

New Haven has a vibrant college-town ambience with lots of social and cultural activities. If you plan to rent, you’ll be pleased to know that a vast majority of the city’s residents also rent. People who want a respite from the hubbub should check out Woodbridge and Orange, both of them a short drive from New Haven. Residents praise Woodbridge for its natural beauty and great schools. Likewise, Orange is known for its topnotch schools plus friendly people.

Getting Around in New Haven

City residents who mainly travel to and from Yale can ride their bikes or take advantage of the New Haven Bike Share and the Yale Shuttle, a free service for students, faculty, and staff. Connecticut Transit offers 24 bus routes with service to 19 municipalities. New Haven is also serviced by Metro-North Railroad and Amtrak for people who commute to and from New York City. Shoreline East provides commuter service between New Haven and New London. The closest airports are Tweed New Haven Airport (HVN) and Bradley International Airport (BDL) in Hartford.