Compare towns
Danbury vs Middletown vs West Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Middletown has the most people working from home (14.1%).
West Haven has the youngest population (median age 35.8).
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 | Danbury | Middletown | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 87,263Highest |
47,958Lowest |
55,351 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest CT: +0.9% |
+0.1% CT: +0.9% |
0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 40.6±1.3Highest about the CT average |
38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
| Danbury and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±1.4 CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| West Haven and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Danbury and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34% CT: 42.5% |
40.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Middletown and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,393±$6kHighest 13% below CT |
$79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
| Danbury and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $411,200±$12kHighest 12% above CT |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
$291,700±$9kLowest 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,846±$63Highest 24% above CT |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
$1,442±$43Lowest 3% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,877Lowest 12% below CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
$6,941Highest 4% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±4.8 CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| West Haven and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
12% CT: 10% |
14.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
52.9% CT: 66.5% |
50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±1.8 CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Middletown and Danbury 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 | #137 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT | #120 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Danbury School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | New Haven School District · West Haven School District |
| High school in town | Danbury High School | Middletown High School | West Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.7Highest |
11.8Lowest |
15.6 |
| 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.