Compare towns
Middletown vs Thompson vs Killingly 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
Middletown has the most people working from home (14.1%).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
West Haven has the youngest population (median age 35.8).
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 | Thompson | Killingly | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 47,958 |
9,337Lowest |
17,867 |
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 |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±1.3 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| West Haven and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
30.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 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 |
$93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
| Thompson and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,300±$11kHighest 20% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$291,700±$9k 20% below CT |
| Middletown and Thompson 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 |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% 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 | $6,412 3% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$6,941Highest 4% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12% CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
14.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Middletown and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #120 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | New Haven School District · West Haven School District |
| High school in town | Middletown High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Killingly High School | West Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
7.9Lowest |
11.1 |
15.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.