Compare towns
Middletown vs Chaplin vs Vernon vs Middlefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middletown has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Vernon has the most kids (16.9% under 18).
Middlefield has the most expensive homes ($376k 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 | Middletown | Chaplin | Vernon | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 47,958Highest |
2,070Lowest |
30,577 |
4,243 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
39.4±2.5 4% below CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±1.3 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±2Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Vernon and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
38% CT: 42.5% |
41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Middletown and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$85,356±$6k 11% below CT |
$99,837±$20kHighest 4% above CT |
| Middlefield and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$275,500±$11k 25% below CT |
$376,000±$27kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,446±$45 about the CT average |
$1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,425±$77Lowest 4% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,412 3% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$5,804 13% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.3%±5.7 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
53.2% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
13.4%±2.5 CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin 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 | #121 of 149 in CT | — | #107 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Vernon School District | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | Middletown High School | Parish Hill High School | Rockville High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
7.5Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| 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.