What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middletown has the most affordable homes ($295k median).

Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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	Middletown	Douglas
People
Population	47,958Highest	9,207Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.1±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average	44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.5%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Middletown and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	15.5%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,438±$6kLowest about the U.S. average	$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,300±$11kLowest 11% below U.S.	$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,446±$45Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S.
	Douglas and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,412Highest 106% above U.S.	$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Middletown and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	52.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 12% below U.S.	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	14.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#121 of 149 in CT	#177 of 282 in MA
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services	Douglas
High school in town	Middletown High School	Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Highest	7.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.