Compare towns
West Haven vs Willimantic vs Plainfield 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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
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 | Willimantic | Plainfield | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 55,351Highest |
18,096 |
15,141Lowest |
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±1.5 13% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
38.1±1.5Highest 7% below CT |
| Middletown and Plainfield 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% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Plainfield 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% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.6%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,382±$5k 22% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$79,438±$6kHighest 17% below CT |
| Middletown and Plainfield 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 |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% 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±$43 3% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% 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 |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic 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% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
12% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.6% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
52.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
23 min 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.4 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Middletown and Plainfield 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT |
| School district | New Haven School District · West Haven School District | — | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services |
| High school in town | West Haven High School | — | Plainfield High School | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.6Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
11.8 |
| 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.