Compare towns
Ellington vs Middletown vs Bethel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ellington has the most kids (24% under 18).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Bethel has the most expensive homes ($435k 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 | Ellington | Middletown | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,455Lowest |
47,958Highest |
20,796 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 40.9±2.4 about the CT average |
38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT |
42.8±2.6Highest 4% above CT |
| Bethel and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
16.4%±1.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Ellington and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
45.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$116,541±$7k 22% above CT |
| Ellington and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,900±$17k about the CT average |
$295,300±$11kLowest 20% below CT |
$434,600±$16kHighest 18% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
$1,446±$45Lowest about the CT average |
$1,640±$142 10% above CT |
| Ellington and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,751 about the CT average |
$6,412Lowest 3% below CT |
$8,165Highest 23% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
51%±11.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethel and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
12%Highest CT: 10% |
5.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.2% CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
75.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1972Lowest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 16% |
17.5%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Ellington and Bethel 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 | #46 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT | #100 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ellington School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Bethel School District |
| High school in town | Ellington High School | Middletown High School | Bethel High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.8 |
13.6Highest |
| 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.