Compare towns
Vernon vs Chaplin vs Ellington vs Middletown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vernon has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Chaplin has the most homeowners (82.9%).
Ellington has the most kids (24% under 18).
Middletown has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Vernon | Chaplin | Ellington | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,577 |
2,070Lowest |
16,455 |
47,958Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.5 4% below CT |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
40.9±2.4 about the CT average |
38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT |
| Chaplin and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38% CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Middletown and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,356±$6k 11% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,500±$11k 25% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$77Lowest 4% below CT |
$1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
| Ellington and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,804 13% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$6,751Highest about the CT average |
$6,412 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.3%±5.7 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Middletown and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
12% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.2% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
72.2% CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.4%±2.5Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
| Ellington and Chaplin 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 | #107 of 149 in CT | — | #46 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Vernon School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Ellington School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services |
| High school in town | Rockville High School | Parish Hill High School | Ellington High School | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
7.5Lowest |
10.3 |
11.8 |
| 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.