Compare towns
Cromwell vs Sterling vs Middletown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cromwell has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Cromwell | Sterling | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,334 |
3,629Lowest |
47,958Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.5Highest 6% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT |
| Cromwell and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.1 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,596±$10kHighest 15% above CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
| Cromwell and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,200±$22kHighest 11% below CT |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
| Cromwell and Middletown 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 |
— | $1,446±$45Lowest about the CT average |
| Cromwell and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,137 8% below CT |
$4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
$6,412Highest 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61%±11.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Cromwell and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
12%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1972Lowest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
| Cromwell 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 | #69 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Cromwell School District | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services |
| High school in town | Cromwell High School | None in town | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.