Compare towns
Deep River vs Middletown vs Essex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deep River has the most kids (16.6% under 18).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Essex has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
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 | Deep River | Middletown | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,458Lowest |
47,958Highest |
6,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT |
52.4±3.6Highest 27% above CT |
| Essex and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±3.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Deep River and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Essex and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6% CT: 42.5% |
40.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
54.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
8.7%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,253±$19k 6% below CT |
$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$104,395±$7kHighest 9% above CT |
| Essex and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$26k about the CT average |
$295,300±$11kLowest 20% below CT |
$552,000±$53kHighest 50% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$185Lowest 18% below CT |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
$1,623±$326Highest 9% above CT |
| Essex and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,092 8% below CT |
$6,412Highest 3% below CT |
$5,678Lowest 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±22.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±9.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Deep River and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% CT: 10% |
12%Highest CT: 10% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
78.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
27 minHighest 3% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 16% |
19.4%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Essex and Deep River 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 | #70 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT | #33 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Essex School District |
| High school in town | Valley Regional High School | Middletown High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
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.