West Haven, CT · standard
ZIP Code 06516
New Haven County, Connecticut - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 55,564
- 1,996/sq mi High-density area
- $74,382
- Median income Near-median income area
- $291,700
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 30.5%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
West Haven pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure and unusually populous area.
- Top 46%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 35%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,996
- people per sq mi
- 51%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 06516 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 06516 (West Haven, CT) rose +8.9% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 244.4 in 2023 to 266.3 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 06516 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in West Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut, with 55,564 residents across 27.8 square miles, a density of 1,996 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 06516 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $74,382 (34% below the average Connecticut ZIP), while per-capita income is $35,740. The poverty rate is 14.1%, with unemployment at 7.3%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $291,700 (33% below the average Connecticut ZIP), and median rent is $1,442; owner occupancy is 50.6%.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 30.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 35.8, and the average commute is 23 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in New Haven County, so 06516 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 06516
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in West Haven, CT
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 06516.
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
117 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
109 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
106 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
90 establishments
- Construction
Construction
79 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 06516, West Haven, CT · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
55,564
Population
27.8
Area (sq mi)
1,996
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 06516?
35.8
Median Age
48.5%
Male
51.5%
Female
21.1%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$74,382
Median Household Income
-34% vs state ZIP avg
$35,740
Per Capita Income
14.1%
Poverty Rate
7.3%
Unemployment Rate
22.9 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 06516 ranks nationally
West Haven, CT household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$74,382 Top 46% higher than 54% of 30,318 US ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
21,973housing units
21,973
Total Housing Units
20,938
Occupied Units
1,035
Vacant Units
2.47
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$291,700
Median Home Value
-33% vs state ZIP avg
$1,442
Median Rent
1959
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+8.9%
YoY Change (2024)
266
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+166%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 06516 have increased 8.9% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +166% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.4% | 165 |
| 2021 | +17.3% | 193 |
| 2022 | +12.7% | 218 |
| 2023 | +12.1% | 244 |
| 2024 | +8.9% | 266 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 780 business establishments in ZIP 06516, employing approximately 13,371 people with a combined annual payroll of $792,824,000.
780
Businesses
13,371
Employees
$792.8M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 117 | 15.0% |
| Retail trade | 109 | 14.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 106 | 13.6% |
| Health care and social assistance | 90 | 11.5% |
| Construction | 79 | 10.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 54 | 6.9% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 54 | 6.9% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 35 | 4.5% |
| Manufacturing | 34 | 4.4% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 30 | 3.9% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 26 | 3.3% |
| Finance and insurance | 24 | 3.1% |
| Educational services | 10 | 1.3% |
| Information | 6 | 0.8% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 5 | 0.6% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 06516 vs 06519 →
ZIP 06516 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 06516
West Haven (06516)
55,564 residents
- 06511
New Haven (06511)
53,600 residents
- 06512
East Haven (06512)
29,861 residents
- 06514
Hamden (06514)
26,265 residents
- 06515 17,141
New Haven (06515)
17,141 residents
- 06519 16,428
New Haven (06519)
16,428 residents
- 06517 14,853
Hamden (06517)
14,853 residents
- 06461 14,552
Milford (06461)
14,552 residents
- 06477 13,956
Orange (06477)
13,956 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 06516 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 06516 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 06525
Woodbridge (06525)
$188,750 median income
- 06477
Orange (06477)
$142,325 median income
- 06461
Milford (06461)
$133,221 median income
- 06517
Hamden (06517)
$104,550 median income
- 06512
East Haven (06512)
$96,146 median income
- 06514
Hamden (06514)
$88,900 median income
- 06516 $74,382
West Haven (06516)
$74,382 median income
- 06515 $73,709
New Haven (06515)
$73,709 median income
- 06511 $59,969
New Haven (06511)
$59,969 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 06516 ranks #7 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06519 | New Haven, CT | 16,428 | 2.2 mi |
| 06515 | New Haven, CT | 17,141 | 3.7 mi |
| 06477 | Orange, CT | 13,956 | 3.2 mi |
| 06510 | New Haven, CT | 2,737 | 3.1 mi |
| 06511 | New Haven, CT | 53,600 | 3.6 mi |
| 06512 | East Haven, CT | 29,861 | 5.0 mi |
| 06514 | Hamden, CT | 26,265 | 7.0 mi |
| 06525 | Woodbridge, CT | 8,990 | 6.1 mi |
| 06517 | Hamden, CT | 14,853 | 6.1 mi |
| 06461 | Milford, CT | 14,552 | 6.1 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 06516, both outside CT so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (55,564 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in New Haven County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 06516 in?
ZIP code 06516 (West Haven) is located in New Haven County, Connecticut. New Haven County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/new-haven-ct.
What is the population of ZIP code 06516?
ZIP code 06516 in West Haven, CT has a population of 55,564 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 06516?
The median household income in ZIP 06516 is $74,382, which is 2% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 06516?
The median home value in ZIP 06516 is $291,700, which is 5% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 06516?
The largest racial group in ZIP 06516 is White at 47.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 27.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 06516?
ZIP code 06516 has 780 business establishments employing approximately 13,371 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 06516?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 06516 are: Accommodation and food services (117), Retail trade (109), Other services (except public administration) (106). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 06516?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 06516 increased by 8.9% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 166%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 06516?
In ZIP code 06516, 63.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 30.5% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 06516?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 06516 is 22.9 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 06516?
In ZIP code 06516, approximately 50.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 49.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 06516?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 06516 is 14.1% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 06516's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 06516 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where West Haven, CT ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.