Snaking up north from the Long Island Sound, East Haven is a New Haven suburb of about 28,000 people that overlooks the water. East Haven's narrow shape — just a mile and a half wide — results from the town selling much of its shoreline to New Haven in the late 1800s. This limited East Haven’s waterfront to the southern part of the town, but residents still have plenty of options to get out on the water. "East Haven is a shoreline waterfront town with lower prices than the surrounding waterfront towns," says Lauren Freedman, a broker with Coldwell Banker Realty. "You get more for your money in East Haven." Today, the town has waterfront properties and winding subdivisions just minutes from major employers like Yale University.
East Haven has a tight knit community with easy access to the water.
With Yale University nearby, East Haven residents have opportunities in academics, medical fields, and administration.
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Public beaches and the Shoreline Greenway Trail
Locals cool off in the water and lay out on the sand at East Haven Town Beach in the Momauguin community. The beach also has a playground and volleyball courts, and Cosey Beach Park has a splashpad steps from the shoreline. "The activity by the water is more of hanging out by the beach," Freedman says. "You've got a lot of kayaks in there. You can also get some boats, but there's not a marina by the water in East Haven. The surrounding towns are more boating communities."
Beachgoers can continue along the shoreline to Silver Sands Beach and Silver Sands Beach and Tennis club, a club with three outdoor pools, pickleball and tennis courts, a tiki bar and more dining and lounge areas. Lighthouse Point Park is farther down the coast and is technically part of New Haven. Visitors can enjoy sunsets on the Sound from this scenic spot with a historic lighthouse.
For more recreation, East Haven’s Shoreline Greenway Trail connects from the old D.C. Moore School building up to Short Beach Road. The town also plans to add a boardwalk across Bradford Preserve and connect the trail west to the New Haven line and east to Branford.
A favorite summer spot, East Haven Town Beach brings the community together for fun by the water.
Take in fresh air and scenic views while walking your dog on the Shoreline Greenway Trail in East Haven.
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Events on the town green and global dining on Main Street
The Center neighborhood has dining along Main Street and is home to the Shore Line Trolley Museum and East Haven’s town green. Locals gather on the green for events such as Sunday night summer concerts, an annual holiday tree lighting with carriage rides and visits from Santa, and a Sunday farmers market through the summer. Restaurants on Main Street feature a variety of cuisines, including Aniello Pizza and Italian Restaurant, Sugar Bakery and Sabor Latino Deli. For food by the water, locals head to Lobster Shack on the shores of the Sound. With a lobster-red exterior and a warm brown interior, it's a popular spot to grab a bite to eat after work.
Sugar Bakery on Main Street is the place to go in East Haven for cupcakes, pastries, and sweet treats.
The Lobster Shack in East Haven serves fresh seafood right on the water.
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Waterfront properties and classic subdivisions
The median house price in East Haven is $330,000, slightly above New Haven’s median price of $300,000. On the town’s southern end, waterfront properties with views of the Long Island Sound range from coastal cottages and condo units to spacious new builds. "You'll find original cottages from the 1930s that need work and have not been updated," Freedman says. "And you also have newer construction in bigger beachfront homes. You could have a $1.5-million new construction next to a $400,000 home."
Neighborhoods such as Foxon in the northern part of the town have winding subdivisions with common styles including bi-levels, Cape Cods and traditional houses built throughout the 20th century. The town has some plans in the works for new housing developments, including new houses along Strong Street and a 55+ community on Sperry Lane and Foxon Boulevard.
East Haven’s waterfront homes range from classic coastal cottages to newly built beachfront houses.
New developments in East Haven include a 55 plus community on Foxon Road.
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Aviation education at East Haven schools
East Haven Public Schools has a C-plus rating from Niche. Students often progress from one of the town’s several elementary schools into C-rated Joseph Melillo Middle and B-minus-rated East Haven High. Students may also attend C-plus-rated East Haven Academy, a magnet school serving first through eighth grades. Melillo Middle, East Haven High and East Haven Academy have partnered with Avelo Airlines to offer students an aviation program. The program has classes like flight science and drone technology and engineering.
East Haven students in grades 6-8 can attend Joseph Melillo Middle School, which offers a wide range of academic and extracurricular activities.
East Haven High School partners with Avelo Airlines to give students hands on courses in aviation.
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Major employers and expanding Tweed New Haven Airport
Interstate 95 goes through East Haven and takes commuters just west to New Haven. Route 80 also takes drivers into the city from the northern part of East Haven. New Haven is home to employers like Yale University and Yale New Haven Hospital. East Haven also has several manufacturers along Commerce Street. To reach New York City, riders can take the New Haven line from Union Station down Connecticut’s southern coastline.
In 2024, the Federal Aviation Administration gave Tweed New Haven Airport a $4 million grant to expand its runway and terminal. "The Tweed Airport is right between East Haven and New Haven. Some people love it, and some people hate it,” says Olivia Martson, real estate agent at the Urban Team at Wareck D'Ostilio in New Haven. She notes traffic and airplane noise as common disturbances that could be heightened by the new expansion.
Fewer reported crimes in 2014 than years before
The East Haven Police Department reported violent and property crime rates above the national average for most months between January 2021 and December 2023. However, the department reported fewer total crimes in 2024 than any year since before 2014, when data becomes available.
Risk of coastal flooding in East Haven
East Haven is a coastal town with slightly more moderate weather than its inland counterparts. That said, East Haven still experiences four seasons with cool winters and warm summers. Many properties are in a flood zone due to their location on the Long Island Sound and its tributaries.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
