What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the highest household income ($159k).

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	Durham	Middletown
People
Population	7,208Lowest	47,958Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+0.1% CT: +0.9%
Median age	45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT	38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT
Kids under 18	16.4%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2%	14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Durham and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5%	16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Durham and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.9%Highest CT: 42.5%	40.2%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1%	15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT	$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT	$295,300±$11kLowest 20% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT	$1,446±$45Highest about the CT average
	Middletown and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,998Highest 20% above CT	$6,412Lowest 3% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6%	47.7%±5.3Highest CT: 52.6%
	Middletown and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest CT: 10%	12%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.2%Highest CT: 66.5%	52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT	1972Lowest 5 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below CT	23 minHighest 12% below CT
Work from home	20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16%	14.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 16%
	Durham 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	#88 of 149 in CT	#121 of 149 in CT
School district	Regional School District 13	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
High school in town	Coginchaug Regional High School	Middletown High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.9Lowest	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.