Compare towns
Middletown vs Willimantic vs Union vs Cromwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Cromwell has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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 | Willimantic | Union | Cromwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 47,958Highest |
18,096 |
944Lowest |
14,334 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
43.5±2.5 6% above CT |
| Union and Cromwell 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% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±3.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Cromwell 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
22%±3.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Union and Cromwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
49.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.5%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
$110,596±$10kHighest 15% above CT |
| Cromwell and Union 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 |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$330,400±$26kHighest 10% below CT |
$325,200±$22k 11% below CT |
| Union and Cromwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,446±$45 about the CT average |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
— | $1,628±$154Highest 9% above CT |
| Cromwell and Middletown 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 |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
$6,137 8% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
61%±11.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Cromwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
24 min 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4Highest CT: 16% |
| Cromwell and Middletown 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 | — | — | #69 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | — | Union School District | Cromwell School District |
| High school in town | Middletown High School | — | None in town | Cromwell High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
— | — | 11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.