What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middletown has the most people working from home (14.1%).

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.

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

Measure	Middletown	West Haven
People
Population	47,958Lowest	55,351Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.1%Highest CT: +0.9%	0%Lowest CT: +0.9%
Median age	38.1±1.5Highest 7% below CT	35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT
	Middletown and West Haven 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%	20.3%±1.9Highest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	16.5%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5%	16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Middletown and West Haven 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%	30.5%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1%	13.6%±1.6Lowest 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±$6kHighest 17% below CT	$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT
	Middletown and West Haven 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	$291,700±$9kLowest 20% below CT
	Middletown and West Haven 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	$6,412Lowest 3% below CT	$6,941Highest 4% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 52.6%	53.4%±5.8Highest CT: 52.6%
	West Haven and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12%Lowest CT: 10%	14.1%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	52.9%Highest CT: 66.5%	50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT	1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 12% below CT	23 minLowest 14% below CT
Work from home	14.1%±1.8Highest CT: 16%	9.2%±1.4Lowest 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	New Haven School District · West Haven School District
High school in town	Middletown High School	West Haven High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Lowest	15.6Highest
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.