Compare towns
West Haven vs Monroe 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).
Monroe has the highest household income ($157k).
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 | Monroe | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 55,351Highest |
18,949Lowest |
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 |
43.5±2.2Highest 6% above CT |
38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Monroe and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest 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% |
57.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.6%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,700±$9kLowest 20% below CT |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,442±$43 3% below CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% 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 | $6,941 4% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$6,412Lowest 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| West Haven and Monroe 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% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
12% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
52.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
| Monroe 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 | #48 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT |
| School district | New Haven School District · West Haven School District | Monroe School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services |
| High school in town | West Haven High School | Masuk High School | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.6Highest |
12.8 |
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.