West Haven, CT vs Lancaster, PA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Lancaster, PA has a modeled overall cost index 21.3% lower than West Haven, CT.

West Haven, CT · modeled 2BR rent: $1,930 / month
Lancaster, PA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,610 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare West Haven, CT and Lancaster, PA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in West Haven, CT

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,716/month in Lancaster, PA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $129,408 in Lancaster, PA

Regional cost estimates: West Haven, CT uses New York, NY. Lancaster, PA uses Baltimore, MD. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 21.3%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,716

Savings

Annual Impact

$20.6K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

West Haven, CT

Population:55K

Cost Index:

125.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$343K

Lancaster, PA

Population:57K

Cost Index:

98.3

100 = national average

Typical Home:$309K

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West Haven, CT

The Constitution State

55K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Connecticut, this city has a population of 55K residents.

Lancaster, PA

The Keystone State

57K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Pennsylvania, this city has a population of 57K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: West Haven, CT vs Lancaster, PA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	West Haven, CT	Lancaster, PA	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,863/mo	$1,964/mo	↓ $1,899less	49.2%
Transportation	$899/mo	$965/mo	↑ $66.16more	7.4%
Other	$1,142/mo	$1,195/mo	↑ $53.33more	4.7%
All Utilities	$390/mo	$441/mo	↑ $50.29more	12.9%
Groceries	$758/mo	$791/mo	↑ $33.23more	4.4%
Healthcare	$448/mo	$428/mo	↓ $19.84less	4.4%

Housing

↓ 49.2%

West Haven, CT

$3,863

Lancaster, PA

$1,964

Difference

$1,899

less

Transportation

↑ 7.4%

West Haven, CT

$899

Lancaster, PA

$965

Difference

$66.16

Other

↑ 4.7%

West Haven, CT

$1,142

Lancaster, PA

$1,195

Difference

$53.33

All Utilities

↑ 12.9%

West Haven, CT

$390

Lancaster, PA

$441

Difference

$50.29

Groceries

↑ 4.4%

West Haven, CT

$758

Lancaster, PA

$791

Difference

$33.23

Healthcare

↓ 4.4%

West Haven, CT

$448

Lancaster, PA

$428

Difference

$19.84

less

🏛️ Local Income Taxes

Lancaster, PA: Lancaster Earned Income Tax$4,380/yr (2.9%)

West Haven, CT has no local income tax recorded in this dataset.

Local taxes are shown separately and are not included in the living-cost totals. Coverage is incomplete; an absent entry does not establish that no tax applies.

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,340

To$1,160

↓ $180

1 Bed

From$1,560

To$1,290

↓ $270

2 Bed

From$1,930

To$1,610

↓ $320

3 Bed

From$2,380

To$2,090

↓ $290

West Haven, CTZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,560–$1,560/mo

Lancaster, PAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,290–$1,290/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in West Haven, CT

$5,784

Monthly in Lancaster, PA

$1,716

Difference

Home Values

West Haven

Lancaster

$343K

Median Value

$309K

↑ +4.6%

YoY Change

↑ +3.7%

↑ +56.2%

5-Year Change

↑ +41.3%

Homes in Lancaster are 10% less expensive than West Haven

Calculate payment - West Haven Calculate payment - Lancaster

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $3.4K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$287

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

2.3%

Rate difference

West Haven, CT

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Connecticut State Tax

Effective: 5.4%

$8.1K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 30.0%

$45.1K

Take-Home Pay

$8,745/month

$104.9K

Lancaster, PA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Pennsylvania State Tax

Effective: 3.1%

$4.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 27.7%

$41.6K

Take-Home Pay

$9,032/month

$108.4K

Additional Tax Information

West Haven, CT Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.3%

Property Tax:2.1%

Lancaster, PA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.5%

Property Tax:1.4%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

West Haven

Lancaster

43 Good

Air Quality

45 Good

65.8%

Good Air Days

65.6%

99 High

Climate Risk

95 High

🌊🌀🌡

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🌪

▲+2.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

11 days

Heat Days >95°F

30 days

▲+2.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

11 days

Heat Days >95°F

30 days

Before moving from West Haven, CT to Lancaster, PA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Lancaster, PA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in West Haven, CT. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your West Haven to Lancaster moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Lancaster, PA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: West Haven, CT vs Lancaster, PA

How do the cost estimates for West Haven, CT and Lancaster, PA compare?

Lancaster, PA has a modeled overall cost index 21.3% lower than West Haven, CT. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in West Haven, CT, the model estimates $129,408 in Lancaster, PA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for West Haven, CT and Lancaster, PA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,930/month in West Haven, CT and $1,610/month in Lancaster, PA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Connecticut and Pennsylvania on TaxTakeHome.com