Greater New Haven is the

metropolitan area A metropolitan area or metro is a region that consists of a densely populated urban agglomeration and its surrounding territories sharing industries, commercial areas, transport network, infrastructures and housing. A metro area usually com ...

whose extent includes those towns in the U.S. state of Connecticut that share an economic, social, political, and historical focus on the city of New Haven. It occupies the south-central portion of the state, in a radius around New Haven. The region is known for its educational and economic connections to Yale University, oceanside recreation and the beach-community feel of the shoreline towns east of New Haven, and the trap rock landscapes stretching north from New Haven. The New Haven metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is the set of municipalities containing the contiguous urbanized area centered on the city of New Haven. The MSA consists of the entirety of

New Haven County New Haven County is a county in the south central part of the U.S. state of Connecticut. As of the 2020 census, the population was 864,835, making it the third-most populous county in Connecticut. Two of the state's top 5 largest cities, New ...

with 27 towns. According to the

U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the New Haven MSA had a population of 861,113 in 2011. The New Haven MSA is also included in the wider region known as the New York Tri-State Area.

Definitions

There are several official definitions of Greater New Haven. There are thirteen towns that are included in all definitions. These are: * Bethany * Branford * East Haven *

Guilford Guildford is a town in Surrey, England. It gives its name to the Borough of Guildford, the Diocese of Guildford and the Parliamentary constituency of Guildford. Guildford, Guilford, or Gildford may also refer to: Places Australia * Guildfor ...

* Hamden *

Madison Madison may refer to: People * Madison (name), a given name and a surname * James Madison (1751–1836), fourth president of the United States Place names * Madison, Wisconsin, the state capital of Wisconsin and the largest city known by this ...

* New Haven (central city) *

Cheshire Cheshire ( ) is a ceremonial and historic county in North West England, bordered by Wales to the west, Merseyside and Greater Manchester to the north, Derbyshire to the east, and Staffordshire and Shropshire to the south. Cheshire's county t ...

* North Haven * Orange * Wallingford * West Haven *

Woodbridge Woodbridge may refer to: Places Australia *Woodbridge, Western Australia formerly called ''West Midland'' *Woodbridge, Tasmania Canada *Woodbridge, Ontario England *Woodbridge, Suffolk, the location of ** Woodbridge (UK Parliament constituency ...

New Haven Service Delivery Area

A service delivery area is a geographical area within which employment and training services are provided under the Job Training Partnership Act. This definition contains 14 towns, with the town of

Clinton Clinton is an English toponymic surname, indicating one's ancestors came from English places called Glympton or Glinton.Hanks, P. & Hodges, F. ''A Dictionary of Surnames''. Oxford University Press, 1988 Clinton has frequently been used as a given ...

added to the thirteen listed above.

South Central Region

The South Central Region is an officially designated region of Connecticut administered by a regional council of governments. The regional council carries out land use, infrastructure, and long-term economic planning for the member towns. This definition contains 15 towns and includes the towns/cities of Meriden and

Milford Milford may refer to: Place names Canada * Milford (Annapolis), Nova Scotia * Milford (Halifax), Nova Scotia * Milford, Ontario England * Milford, Derbyshire * Milford, Devon, a place in Devon * Milford on Sea, Hampshire * Milford, Shro ...

, in addition to those listed above.

New Haven Labor Market Area

A labor market area, as defined by the U.S.

Bureau of Labor Statistics The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is a unit of the United States Department of Labor. It is the principal fact-finding agency for the U.S. government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics and serves as a principal agency of t ...

, is an economically integrated area within which individuals can reside and find employment within a reasonable distance or can readily change employment without changing their place of residence. This definition contains 17 towns including the towns of

, Clinton, Killingworth, and Meriden.

New England City and Town Area

The New Haven NECTA is the set of towns containing the contiguous urbanized area centered on the city of New Haven, plus additional outlying towns that have a sufficient number of people commuting into the central towns. This definition includes 23 towns, adding the following ten towns:

Chester Chester is a cathedral city and the county town of Cheshire, England. It is located on the River Dee, close to the English–Welsh border. With a population of 79,645 in 2011,"2011 Census results: People and Population Profile: Chester Loca ...

, Cheshire, Clinton, Deep River, Durham, Essex, Killingworth, Meriden, Middlefield, Old Saybrook, and Westbrook. This definition includes a significant portion of the Lower Connecticut River Valley, which is not usually included in local definitions of Greater New Haven. As of the 2000 Census, the NECTA had a population of 571,310.

Metropolitan Statistical Area

The New Haven MSA is the set of counties containing the contiguous urbanized area centered on the city of New Haven. The MSA consists of the entirety of

with 27 towns. This definition, while consistent with national definitions of metropolitan areas, includes the city of Waterbury and its southern and eastern suburbs, which are not usually included in local definitions of Greater New Haven. According to the

, the New Haven MSA had a population of 846,766 as of 2005. The New Haven MSA is also included in the New York–Newark–Bridgeport Combined Statistical Area.U.S. Census Bureau - Definitions of Combined Statistical Areas

Transportation

Rail

New Haven Union Station Union Station, also known as New Haven Railroad Station or simply New Haven, is the main railroad passenger station in New Haven, Connecticut. It is the third such station in the city of New Haven, preceded by both an 1848 built station in a di ...

serves as the central point of rail service in Greater New Haven. Metro North's New Haven Line serves New Haven State St and New Haven Union Station in downtown New Haven, West Haven as well as

. Shore Line East serves both New Haven stations plus Branford,

and Westbrook in the region, with service to Old Saybrook and New London as well as limited service to west of New Haven. Both of Amtrak's

Northeast Corridor The Northeast Corridor (NEC) is an electrified railroad line in the Northeast megalopolis of the United States. Owned primarily by Amtrak, it runs from Boston through Providence, New Haven, Stamford, New York City, Philadelphia, Wilmington, a ...

services go through New Haven Union Station; most Acela Express and all Northeast Regional trains stop. Additionally, Amtrak's

New Haven–Springfield Shuttle The ''Hartford Line'' is a train service run by Amtrak primarily between Springfield, Massachusetts, and New Haven, Connecticut, along Amtrak's New Haven–Springfield Line. Service on the line takes the form of shuttle trains, '' Valley Flye ...

offers local service to Springfield, which is supplemented by the Hartford Line commuter service.

Bus

CTTransit serves the Greater New Haven area.

References

{{Northeast Megalopolis New Haven, Greater Regions of Connecticut Metropolitan areas of Connecticut Geography of New Haven, Connecticut