What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chaplin has the most homeowners (82.9%).

Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Chaplin	Middletown
People
Population	2,070Lowest	47,958Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+0.1% CT: +0.9%
Median age	43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT	38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT
	Chaplin and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±4.2Highest CT: 20.2%	14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Chaplin and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5%	16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Chaplin and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5%	40.2%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.1%±6.2Lowest CT: 7.1%	15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1%
	Middletown and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,846±$14kHighest about the CT average	$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT
	Chaplin and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT	$295,300±$11kHighest 20% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average	$1,446±$45Lowest about the CT average
	Chaplin and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,524Lowest 32% below CT	$6,412Highest 3% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6%	47.7%±5.3Highest CT: 52.6%
	Middletown and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest CT: 10%	12%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Highest CT: 66.5%	52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT	1972Lowest 5 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 22% above CT	23 minLowest 12% below CT
Work from home	18.1%±10Highest CT: 16%	14.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 16%
	Chaplin and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#121 of 149 in CT
School district	Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
High school in town	Parish Hill High School	Middletown High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.5Lowest	11.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.