Compare towns

Middletown vs Killingly 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).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Portland has the highest household income ($119k).

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.

MeasureMiddletownKillinglyPortland
People
Population
47,958Highest
17,867
9,434Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%
CT: +0.9%
— —
Median age
38.1±1.5Lowest
7% below CT
39.5±3
4% below CT
41.6±2Highest
about the CT average
Portland and Killingly 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%
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
22.3%±3.7Highest
CT: 20.2%
Portland and Killingly 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%
19.7%±2.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
18.7%±2.9
CT: 18.5%
Killingly and Portland 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%
22.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
52.1%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
15.5%±1.4Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9Lowest
CT: 7.1%
7.6%±2.9
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,438±$6kLowest
17% below CT
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$118,929±$15kHighest
24% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$295,300±$11k
20% below CT
$288,600±$15kLowest
21% below CT
$337,400±$36kHighest
8% below CT
Portland and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,446±$45Highest
about the CT average
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,129±$62
24% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,412
3% below CT
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$6,461Highest
about the CT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.7%±5.3
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
CT: 52.6%
48.1%±20.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
Portland and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12%Highest
CT: 10%
11.4%
CT: 10%
3.9%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
83.9%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Highest
5 yrs newer than CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
12% below CT
28 min
5% above CT
28 minHighest
7% above CT
Work from home
14.1%±1.8
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
CT: 16%
18.5%±4.8Highest
CT: 16%
Portland 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 #136 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 · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Portland School District
High school in town Middletown High School Killingly High School Portland High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.8Highest
11.1
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.