Compare towns
Middletown vs Willimantic 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 expensive homes ($295k median).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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 | Willimantic | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 47,958Highest |
18,096Lowest |
30,577 |
| 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 |
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% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±2 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest 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% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
38% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.5%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% 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 |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$275,500±$11k 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 |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,425±$77 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 |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$5,804 13% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.3%±5.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic 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% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
13.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
53.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest 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 | — | #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 | 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.