What stands out worked out from the figures below

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	West Haven	Middletown
People
Population	55,351Highest	47,958Lowest
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	38.1±1.5Highest 7% below CT
	Middletown and West Haven 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%	14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5%	16.5%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5%
	Middletown and West Haven 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%	40.2%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.6%±1.6Lowest 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	$79,438±$6kHighest 17% below CT
	Middletown and West Haven 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	$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	$1,446±$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	$6,941Highest 4% above CT	$6,412Lowest 3% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.4%±5.8Highest CT: 52.6%	47.7%±5.3Lowest 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%	12%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5%	52.9%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT	1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below CT	23 minHighest 12% below CT
Work from home	9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16%	14.1%±1.8Highest CT: 16%
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	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
High school in town	West Haven High School	Middletown High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.6Highest	11.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.