Compare towns
Vernon vs Windham 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
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Ellington has the highest household income ($130k).
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 | Windham | Ellington | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,577 |
23,961 |
16,455Lowest |
47,958Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.5 4% below CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
40.9±2.4Highest about the CT average |
38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
| Ellington and Vernon 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% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Ellington and Vernon 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% |
22.7%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% |
15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Middletown and Windham 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 |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
$79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,500±$11k 25% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$77 4% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,804 13% below CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$6,751Highest about the CT average |
$6,412 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.3%±5.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham 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% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
12% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.2% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
72.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
52.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older 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 |
24 min 8% below CT |
31 minHighest 18% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.4%±2.5 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
| Ellington 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 | #107 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT | #46 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Vernon School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ellington School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services |
| High school in town | Rockville High School | Windham High School | Ellington High School | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
9.8Lowest |
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.