Compare towns
West Haven vs Chaplin vs Middletown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Haven has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Chaplin has the most homeowners (82.9%).
Middletown has the most expensive homes ($295k median).
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 | West Haven | Chaplin | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 55,351Highest |
2,070Lowest |
47,958 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | +0.1%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
| Chaplin and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±1.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| West Haven and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.5% CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.6%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Lowest 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 | $74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
$97,846±$14kHighest about the CT average |
$79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
| Chaplin and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,700±$9k 20% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% 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 | $1,442±$43Lowest 3% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
| Chaplin and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941Highest 4% above CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest 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 | 14.1%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
12% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
52.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin 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 | #120 of 149 in CT | — | #121 of 149 in CT |
| School district | New Haven School District · West Haven School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services |
| High school in town | West Haven High School | Parish Hill High School | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.6Highest |
7.5Lowest |
11.8 |
| 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.