Compare towns
West Haven vs Hampton vs Orange 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).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k 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 | Hampton | Orange | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 55,351Highest |
1,647Lowest |
14,315 |
47,958 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
+0.1% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
| Hampton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and West Haven 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton and Orange 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% |
29.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.6%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 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 |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,700±$9kLowest 20% below CT |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,442±$43 3% below CT |
$1,285±$288Lowest 14% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941 4% above CT |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and West Haven 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% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
12% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
52.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
| Hampton and Orange 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 | — | #38 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT |
| School district | New Haven School District · West Haven School District | Hampton School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services |
| High school in town | West Haven High School | None in town | — | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.6Highest |
— | — | 11.8Lowest |
| 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.