Is private school cheaper in Cambridge or New Haven?

New Haven has lower average private school tuition at $22,400/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. That's $9,600/year less, or $124,800 over a K-12 career.

How much can I save on private school by choosing New Haven over Cambridge?

Average tuition in New Haven is $9,600/year less than Cambridge. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $124,800 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $17,300/year in Cambridge, $12,400/year in New Haven.

How do Cambridge and New Haven private school costs compare to the national average?

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Cambridge averages $32,000/year ($19,650 above average). New Haven averages $22,400/year ($10,050 above average).

Private School Cost: Cambridge vs New Haven

New Haven averages $9,600/year less for private school (43% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $124,800 per child.

Bottom Line

New Haven is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $22,400/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. Religious schools run $12,400/year on the low end.

Cambridge

$32,000

avg tuition/year

$19,650 above national avg

New Haven

$22,400

avg tuition/year

$10,050 above national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Cambridge	New Haven	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$32,000/yr	$22,400/yr	+$9,600
Religious Schools	$17,300/yr	$12,400/yr	+$4,900
Independent/Prep	$65,000/yr	$44,600/yr	+$20,400
Elementary (K-5)	$27,200/yr	$19,000/yr	+$8,200
Middle School (6-8)	$32,000/yr	$22,400/yr	+$9,600
High School (9-12)	$38,400/yr	$26,900/yr	+$11,500

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Cambridge

$416,000

New Haven

$291,200

Choosing New Haven saves $124,800 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $249,600.

Sample Schools

Cambridge

Cambridge School of Weston

Independent · 9–12 · $59,400/yr

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School

Independent · PK–12 · $58,800/yr

New Haven

Hopkins School (New Haven)

Independent · 7–12 · $43,200/yr

Sacred Heart Academy (Hamden)

Catholic · 9–12 · $18,400/yr

Full Cambridge breakdown → Full New Haven breakdown →

Massachusetts private school costs Connecticut private school costs

About This Comparison

This comparison uses NCES Private School Universe Survey data, adjusted for metro-level cost-of-living differences. "Average tuition" blends religious schools (Catholic, Christian) and independent day/prep schools. Religious schools typically cost 60-70% less than independent schools in the same city.

Grade-level estimates (elementary, middle, high) are derived from the city average using national grade-level multipliers. High school tuition typically runs 15-25% above the city average; elementary runs 10-20% below.