Compare towns

Middletown vs Suffield vs West Haven

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
West Haven has the most kids (20.3% under 18).

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.

MeasureMiddletownSuffieldWest Haven
People
Population
47,958
15,702Lowest
55,351Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%Highest
CT: +0.9%
—
0%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
Median age
38.1±1.5
7% below CT
44.5±1.7Highest
8% above CT
35.8±1.5Lowest
13% below CT
Kids under 18
14.3%±1.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
16.2%±2
CT: 20.2%
20.3%±1.9Highest
CT: 20.2%
Age 65+
16.5%±1.3
CT: 18.5%
18.4%±2.2Highest
CT: 18.5%
16%±1.3Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Suffield and Middletown 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%
40.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
30.5%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
15.5%±1.4Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.4%±1.2Lowest
CT: 7.1%
13.6%±1.6
CT: 7.1%
Middletown and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,438±$6k
17% below CT
$119,472±$13kHighest
25% above CT
$74,382±$5kLowest
22% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$295,300±$11k
20% below CT
$407,500±$26kHighest
11% above CT
$291,700±$9kLowest
20% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,446±$45Highest
about the CT average
$1,424±$141Lowest
4% below CT
$1,442±$43
3% below CT
Middletown and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,412Lowest
3% below CT
$6,456
about the CT average
$6,941Highest
4% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.7%±5.3Lowest
CT: 52.6%
51%±4.6
CT: 52.6%
53.4%±5.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
West Haven and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12%
CT: 10%
4.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
14.1%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.9%
CT: 66.5%
86.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
50.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
5 yrs newer than CT
1979Highest
12 yrs newer than CT
1959Lowest
8 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
12% below CT
26 minHighest
3% below CT
23 minLowest
14% below CT
Work from home
14.1%±1.8
CT: 16%
18.4%±4.1Highest
CT: 16%
9.2%±1.4Lowest
CT: 16%
Suffield 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 #57 of 149 in CT #120 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Suffield School District New Haven School District · West Haven School District
High school in town Middletown High School Suffield High School West Haven High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.8
10.9Lowest
15.6Highest
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.