Compare towns
Middletown vs Putnam 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).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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.
| Measure | Middletown | Putnam | Portland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 47,958Highest |
9,292Lowest |
9,434 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
41.6±2 about the CT average |
| Putnam and Portland 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% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.3%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Portland and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±2.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Portland and Putnam 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% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
52.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.6%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$118,929±$15kHighest 24% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% 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 |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,129±$62Lowest 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,412 3% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,461Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest 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% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
83.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
28 minHighest 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #61 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Putnam School District | Portland School District |
| High school in town | Middletown High School | Putnam High School | Portland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
10.6 |
| 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.