Compare towns
Portland vs Putnam vs Middletown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Portland has the highest household income ($119k).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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.
| Measure | Portland | Putnam | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,434 |
9,292Lowest |
47,958Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 41.6±2 about the CT average |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT |
| Putnam and Portland 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% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Portland and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Portland and Putnam 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% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,929±$15kHighest 24% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,400±$36kHighest 8% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$295,300±$11k 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 |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,446±$45Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,461Highest about the CT average |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.1%±20.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3 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% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
12%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 7% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Portland School District | Putnam School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services |
| High school in town | Portland High School | Putnam High School | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
9.5Lowest |
11.8Highest |
| 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.