Compare towns
Middletown vs Hamden vs Portland
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 renters (47.1% rent).
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Portland has the most homeowners (83.9%).
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 | Portland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 47,958 |
61,045Highest |
9,434Lowest |
| 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 |
41.6±2Highest about the CT average |
| Portland and Hamden 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% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
22.3%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±2.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Portland and Hamden 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 CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
52.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
7.6%±2.9Lowest 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 |
$118,929±$15kHighest 24% above CT |
| Portland 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±$11kLowest 20% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$337,400±$36kHighest 8% below CT |
| Portland and Hamden 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 |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,129±$62Lowest 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,412Lowest 3% below CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$6,461 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±20.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12%Highest CT: 10% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
83.9%Highest 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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
28 minHighest 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
18.5%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Portland and Hamden 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 | #61 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 | Portland School District |
| High school in town | Middletown High School | Hamden High School | Portland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
13.5Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| 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.