Compare towns

Middletown vs West Haven vs Middlefield

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%).
West Haven has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Middlefield has the most homeowners (86.5%).

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.

MeasureMiddletownWest HavenMiddlefield
People
Population
47,958
55,351Highest
4,243Lowest
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
35.8±1.5Lowest
13% below CT
51.6±1.9Highest
26% above CT
Kids under 18
14.3%±1.3
CT: 20.2%
20.3%±1.9Highest
CT: 20.2%
13.9%±4.1Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Age 65+
16.5%±1.3
CT: 18.5%
16%±1.3Lowest
CT: 18.5%
25.5%±7.2Highest
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.2%
CT: 42.5%
30.5%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
41.5%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
15.5%±1.4Highest
CT: 7.1%
13.6%±1.6
CT: 7.1%
5.7%±2.4Lowest
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
$74,382±$5kLowest
22% below CT
$99,837±$20kHighest
4% above CT
Middlefield 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
$291,700±$9kLowest
20% below CT
$376,000±$27kHighest
about the CT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,446±$45
about the CT average
$1,442±$43Lowest
3% below CT
$3,501Highest
135% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,412Lowest
3% below CT
$6,941Highest
4% above CT
$6,853
3% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.7%±5.3Lowest
CT: 52.6%
53.4%±5.8
CT: 52.6%
85.4%±52.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
Middlefield 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%
14.1%Highest
CT: 10%
8.1%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.9%
CT: 66.5%
50.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
86.5%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Highest
5 yrs newer than CT
1959Lowest
8 yrs older than CT
1961
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
12% below CT
23 minLowest
14% below CT
25 minHighest
6% below CT
Work from home
14.1%±1.8Highest
CT: 16%
9.2%±1.4Lowest
CT: 16%
10.9%±4.1
CT: 16%
Middletown and Middlefield 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 #120 of 149 in CT #65 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 Regional School District 13
High school in town Middletown High School West Haven High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.8Lowest
15.6Highest
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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.