What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middletown has the shortest commute (23 min average).

Vernon has the most kids (16.9% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Middletown	Vernon
People
Population	47,958Highest	30,577Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.1% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT	39.4±2.5Highest 4% below CT
	Vernon and Middletown 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%	16.9%±2Highest CT: 20.2%
	Vernon and Middletown 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%	18.6%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5%
	Vernon 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%Highest CT: 42.5%	38%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1%	7.8%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT	$85,356±$6kHighest 11% below CT
	Vernon 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±$11kHighest 20% below CT	$275,500±$11kLowest 25% below CT
	Middletown and Vernon 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	$1,425±$77Lowest 4% below CT
	Middletown and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,412Highest 3% below CT	$5,804Lowest 13% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.7%±5.3Highest CT: 52.6%	39.3%±5.7Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Middletown and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12%Lowest CT: 10%	13.4%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%	53.2%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT	1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 12% below CT	27 minHighest about the CT average
Work from home	14.1%±1.8Highest CT: 16%	13.4%±2.5Lowest CT: 16%
	Middletown and Vernon 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	#107 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services	Vernon School District
High school in town	Middletown High School	Rockville High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Lowest	12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.