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.

[3] The New Haven MSA is also included in the wider region known as the New York Tri-State Area.

[7] The regional council carries out land use, infrastructure, and long-term economic planning for the member towns.

A labor market area, as defined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 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.

[12] The New Haven MSA was included in the New York–Newark–Bridgeport Combined Statistical Area until 2023 when it was added to and became a major part of the New Haven–Hartford–Waterbury, CT CSA.