Compare towns
Middletown vs Union 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%).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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.
| Measure | Middletown | Union | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 47,958 |
944Lowest |
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 |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| West Haven and Union 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Lowest 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 |
$88,958±$14kHighest 7% below CT |
$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
| Union and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
$330,400±$26kHighest 10% below CT |
$291,700±$9kLowest 20% below CT |
| Union 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 |
— | $1,442±$43Lowest 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 |
$4,793Lowest 28% below CT |
$6,941Highest 4% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Union 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% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
14.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs 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 |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #121 of 149 in CT | — | #120 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Union School District | New Haven School District · West Haven School District |
| High school in town | Middletown High School | None in town | West Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
— | 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.