Compare towns

Milford vs Wallingford vs Stratford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Milford has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Wallingford has the youngest population (median age 42.6).
Stratford has the most homeowners (81.6%).

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.

MeasureMilfordWallingfordStratford
People
Population
52,684
44,362Lowest
52,790Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.4%
CT: +0.9%
— —
Median age
46.6±1.4Highest
13% above CT
42.6±1.8Lowest
4% above CT
45.7±1.4
11% above CT
Milford and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.2%±1.4Lowest
CT: 20.2%
18.8%±1.9Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.3%±1.3
CT: 20.2%
Wallingford and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.1%±1.5Highest
CT: 18.5%
21.2%±1.7
CT: 18.5%
20.7%±1.6Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Milford and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
50.5%Highest
CT: 42.5%
40.4%
CT: 42.5%
37.7%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±0.7Lowest
CT: 7.1%
6%±1Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1
CT: 7.1%
Wallingford and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$110,669±$7kHighest
16% above CT
$104,773±$5k
9% above CT
$95,815±$7kLowest
about the CT average
Milford and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$416,800±$9kHighest
14% above CT
$353,100±$8kLowest
4% below CT
$372,200±$8k
about the CT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,882±$80Highest
26% above CT
$1,374±$84Lowest
8% below CT
$1,706±$75
15% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,694
about the CT average
$5,963Lowest
10% below CT
$7,420Highest
12% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.3%±7.3
CT: 52.6%
42.9%±8.9Lowest
CT: 52.6%
59.3%±7.7Highest
CT: 52.6%
Stratford and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.1%Lowest
CT: 10%
5.4%
CT: 10%
6.7%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.8%
CT: 66.5%
72.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
81.6%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965
2 yrs older than CT
1972Highest
5 yrs newer than CT
1958Lowest
9 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
4% below CT
24 minLowest
8% below CT
30 minHighest
13% above CT
Work from home
17.7%±1.8Highest
CT: 16%
13.3%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
14.6%±1.9
CT: 16%
Milford and Stratford 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 #98 of 149 in CT #108 of 149 in CT #134 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Milford School District Wallingford School District Stratford School District
High school in town Jonathan Law High School Lyman Hall High School Stratford High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.8
10.5Lowest
13.9Highest
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.