Compare towns
Middletown vs Chaplin vs West Haven
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 most expensive homes ($295k median).
Chaplin has the most homeowners (82.9%).
West Haven has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
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 | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 47,958 |
2,070Lowest |
55,351Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
| Chaplin and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| West Haven and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Middletown and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
$97,846±$14kHighest about the CT average |
$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
| Chaplin and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,300±$11kHighest 20% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$291,700±$9k 20% below CT |
| Middletown and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,446±$45 about the CT average |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,442±$43Lowest 3% below CT |
| Chaplin and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,412 3% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$6,941Highest 4% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| West Haven 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% |
14.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4Lowest 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 | — | #120 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 | New Haven School District · West Haven School District |
| High school in town | Middletown High School | Parish Hill High School | West Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
7.5Lowest |
15.6Highest |
| 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.