Compare towns
Middletown vs Hamden vs Middlefield vs Vernon
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 youngest population (median age 38.1).
Hamden has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Middlefield has the most homeowners (86.5%).
Vernon has the most affordable homes ($276k 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 | Hamden | Middlefield | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 47,958 |
61,045Highest |
4,243Lowest |
30,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
39.4±2.5 4% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±1.3 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±2 CT: 20.2% |
| Hamden and Vernon 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% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Vernon 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% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
38%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Middletown and Hamden 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 |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$99,837±$20kHighest 4% above CT |
$85,356±$6k 11% below CT |
| Middlefield and Hamden 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 |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$376,000±$27kHighest about the CT average |
$275,500±$11kLowest 25% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,446±$45 about the CT average |
$1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,425±$77Lowest 4% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,412 3% below CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$6,853 3% above CT |
$5,804Lowest 13% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.3%±5.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12% CT: 10% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
8.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
13.4%±2.5 CT: 16% |
| Hamden 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 | #122 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT | #107 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Regional School District 13 | Vernon School District |
| High school in town | Middletown High School | Hamden High School | None in town | Rockville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— | 12.1 |
| 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.