Compare towns
Middlefield vs Willimantic vs Putnam vs Middletown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlefield has the most homeowners (86.5%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Middletown has the most people working from home (14.1%).
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 | Middlefield | Willimantic | Putnam | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,243Lowest |
18,096 |
9,292 |
47,958Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | +0.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,837±$20kHighest 4% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
| Middlefield and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,000±$27kHighest about the CT average |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
12% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
52.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
25 minHighest 6% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Middletown and Middlefield 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 | #65 of 149 in CT | — | #128 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | — | Putnam School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Putnam High School | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5Lowest |
11.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.