Compare towns
Vernon vs West Haven 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 highest household income ($85k).
West Haven has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Middletown has the most people working from home (14.1%).
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 | West Haven | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,577Lowest |
55,351Highest |
47,958 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+0.1%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.5Highest 4% below CT |
35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
38.1±1.5 7% 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 | 16.9%±2 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| West Haven and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3 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+ | 38% CT: 42.5% |
30.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.8%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Middletown and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,356±$6kHighest 11% below CT |
$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
$79,438±$6k 17% 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 | $275,500±$11kLowest 25% below CT |
$291,700±$9k 20% below CT |
$295,300±$11kHighest 20% below CT |
| Middletown and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$77Lowest 4% below CT |
$1,442±$43 3% below CT |
$1,446±$45Highest about the CT average |
| Middletown and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,804Lowest 13% below CT |
$6,941Highest 4% above CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.3%±5.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
| West Haven and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.4% CT: 10% |
14.1%Highest CT: 10% |
12%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
52.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the CT average |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.4%±2.5 CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8Highest 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 | #107 of 149 in CT | #120 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Vernon School District | New Haven School District · West Haven School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services |
| High school in town | Rockville High School | West Haven High School | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
15.6Highest |
11.8Lowest |
| 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.