Compare towns
Middletown vs West Haven vs Vernon
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).
Vernon has the highest household income ($85k).
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 | West Haven | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 47,958 |
55,351Highest |
30,577Lowest |
| 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 |
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% |
20.3%±1.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±2 CT: 20.2% |
| West Haven and Vernon 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% |
16%±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% |
30.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
38% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$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 |
$291,700±$9k 20% below CT |
$275,500±$11kLowest 25% 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±$43 3% below CT |
$1,425±$77Lowest 4% 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 |
$6,941Highest 4% above CT |
$5,804Lowest 13% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.3%±5.7Lowest 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% |
13.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% CT: 66.5% |
50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
53.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below CT |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
13.4%±2.5 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 | #120 of 149 in CT | #107 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 | Vernon School District |
| High school in town | Middletown High School | West Haven High School | Rockville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
15.6Highest |
12.1 |
| 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.