What stands out worked out from the figures below

Portland has the most homeowners (83.9%).

Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Portland	Middletown
People
Population	9,434Lowest	47,958Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+0.1% CT: +0.9%
Median age	41.6±2Highest about the CT average	38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT
	Portland and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.3%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2%	14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	18.7%±2.9Highest CT: 18.5%	16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Portland and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.1%Highest CT: 42.5%	40.2%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1%	15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$118,929±$15kHighest 24% above CT	$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$337,400±$36kHighest 8% below CT	$295,300±$11kLowest 20% below CT
	Portland and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,129±$62Lowest 24% below CT	$1,446±$45Highest about the CT average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,461Highest about the CT average	$6,412Lowest 3% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.1%±20.8Highest CT: 52.6%	47.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Portland and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.9%Lowest CT: 10%	12%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.9%Highest CT: 66.5%	52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT	1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 7% above CT	23 minLowest 12% below CT
Work from home	18.5%±4.8Highest CT: 16%	14.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 16%
	Portland 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	#61 of 149 in CT	#121 of 149 in CT
School district	Portland School District	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
High school in town	Portland High School	Middletown High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Lowest	11.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.