Compare towns
Middletown vs Norwalk vs Middlefield
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 affordable homes ($295k median).
Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k median).
Middlefield has the most homeowners (86.5%).
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 | Norwalk | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 47,958 |
92,187Highest |
4,243Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+6.5%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT |
40.6±1 about the CT average |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±1.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17%±1 CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$107,616±$7kHighest 12% above CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
| Norwalk and Middlefield 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 |
$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,446±$45Lowest about the CT average |
$2,073±$87 39% above CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,412Lowest 3% below CT |
$7,817Highest 18% above CT |
$6,853 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.1%±5.2 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12%Highest CT: 10% |
9.1% CT: 10% |
8.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
55.6% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
| Norwalk 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 | #112 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Norwalk School District | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | Middletown High School | Brien McMahon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
14.7Highest |
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| 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.