What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cromwell has the shortest commute (24 min average).

Portland has the most kids (22.3% under 18).

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	Cromwell	Portland
People
Population	14,334Highest	9,434Lowest
Median age	43.5±2.5Highest 6% above CT	41.6±2Lowest about the CT average
	Cromwell and Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.1%±3.1Lowest CT: 20.2%	22.3%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2%
	Portland and Cromwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22%±3.2Highest CT: 18.5%	18.7%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Cromwell and Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.2%Lowest CT: 42.5%	52.1%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.4%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1%	7.6%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1%
	Portland and Cromwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,596±$10kLowest 15% above CT	$118,929±$15kHighest 24% above CT
	Portland and Cromwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$325,200±$22kLowest 11% below CT	$337,400±$36kHighest 8% below CT
	Portland and Cromwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,628±$154Highest 9% above CT	$1,129±$62Lowest 24% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,137Lowest 8% below CT	$6,461Highest about the CT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61%±11.9Highest CT: 52.6%	48.1%±20.8Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Cromwell and Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Highest CT: 10%	3.9%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.4%Lowest CT: 66.5%	83.9%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT	1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below CT	28 minHighest 7% above CT
Work from home	18.4%±4Lowest CT: 16%	18.5%±4.8Highest CT: 16%
	Portland and Cromwell 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	#69 of 149 in CT	#61 of 149 in CT
School district	Cromwell School District	Portland School District
High school in town	Cromwell High School	Portland High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	10.6Lowest
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.