Compare towns
West Haven vs Danbury 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 youngest population (median age 35.8).
Danbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
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 | West Haven | Danbury | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 55,351 |
87,263Highest |
47,958Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+7%Highest CT: +0.9% |
+0.1% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
40.6±1.3Highest about the CT average |
38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
| Danbury 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% |
19.6%±1.4 CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| West Haven and Danbury 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% |
17.2%±1.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Danbury 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
40.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.6%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±1Lowest 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 |
$83,393±$6kHighest 13% below CT |
$79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
| Danbury 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±$9kLowest 20% below CT |
$411,200±$12kHighest 12% above CT |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,442±$43Lowest 3% below CT |
$1,846±$63Highest 24% above CT |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941Highest 4% above CT |
$5,877Lowest 12% below CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
51.9%±4.8 CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| West Haven and Danbury 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% |
11.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
12% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
52.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
12.7%±1.8 CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Middletown and Danbury 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 | #137 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT |
| School district | New Haven School District · West Haven School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Danbury School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services |
| High school in town | West Haven High School | Danbury High School | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.6 |
15.7Highest |
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.