Compare towns
Middletown vs Durham 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
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+28.6%).
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 | Durham | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 47,958 |
3,347Lowest |
55,351Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
+28.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
47.9±5.4Highest 17% above CT |
35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
15%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| West Haven and Durham 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% |
19.1%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Durham 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% CT: 42.5% |
42.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$152,396±$32kHighest 59% above CT |
$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
$401,700±$32kHighest 9% above CT |
$291,700±$9kLowest 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,446±$45 about the CT average |
$1,625±$1kHighest 9% above CT |
$1,442±$43Lowest 3% below CT |
| Durham and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,412Lowest 3% below CT |
$7,107Highest 7% above CT |
$6,941 4% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.7%±35Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Durham and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12% CT: 10% |
6.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
14.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below CT |
24 minHighest 10% below CT |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
20%±6.7Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Durham 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | #120 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | — | New Haven School District · West Haven School District |
| High school in town | Middletown High School | — | West Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
— | 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.