Study: Middletown 1 of Best Places in Connecticut to Raise Family

NerdWallet, a consumer advocacy website, has analyzed national and statewide data to determine the best places in Connecticut for raising a family. Middletown ranked number 14 on a list that evaluated five factors:

1. Public school rating
   
2. Median home value
   
3. Ongoing cost of homeownership
   
4. Median income
   
5. Economic growth

1. Orange

Orange is a small, 17.6-square mile community just west of New Haven. Schools in the area are excellent, having earned a 9 out of 10 from GreatSchools. On the 2012 CMTs, students at Turkey Hill School outperformed the state average by over 10 percentage points in reading, math and writing. In 2012, Orange’s economy built up quite a bit; while six businesses closed, 32 new businesses opened their doors.

2. Trumbull

Trumbull is a 34,000-person community near Bridgeport and is a part of the Greater New York metro area. Earlier this year, the town was named the top booming suburb in Connecticut by Coldwell Banker. Their analysis showed which towns were prospering, with year-over-year increases in employment, and all the suburban amenities, like grocery stores, banks and quality schools. The community’s residents are also well equipped for the workforce. 47 percent hold a bachelor’s degree – about 12 percent more than the state.

3. Newington

Newington is just 10 minutes from Hartford, the state capital and a major player in the insurance industry. Newington High School offers dozens of college scholarships through its guidance department. Over 30 percent of the school’s seniors take an AP exam – a 5 percent leg up over statewide participation.

4. West Hartford

West Hartford was recently rated the most educated town in the Greater Hartford region – as well as the best for families and seniors. Education beyond the working-age population is strong, too, with schools that have been ranked the most rigorous by the Washington Post and the best in the state by US News & World Report.

5. Wethersfield

Wethersfield is in the Hartford region, and it is one of the most scencic communities around. The Old Wethersfield district features pre-Revolutionary War architecture, an antique shop and galleries. The town includes over 644 acres of parkland, with space for basketball and tennis as well as a 10-mile bike trail.

6. Darien

Darien is a residential community – most people who live here will commute to a nearby city like Norwalk, Stamford or the Big Apple, approximately 40 miles away. Real estate may be pricier here, but the community is also one of the 10 top-earning towns in the U.S., according to CNNMoney. Residents here also enjoy some of the most scenic views around, with waterfront property on the Long Island Sound. The schools are excellent, too; Darien High School consistently outperforms its rivals on the SAT’s math portion.

7. Milford

Milford sits between Bridgeport and New Haven on the Long Island Sound coastline, which runs into the Wepawaug River in the heart of the city’s downtown district. The city is the sixth-oldest town in Connecticut, and the town green is the second-longest in all of New England. Top employers in the area include the city schools’ board of education, Milford Hospital and Subway, whose world headquarters are in town.

8. Wallingford Center

Wallingford’s central business district – Wallingford Center – is a census-designated place of its own. The community sits between New Haven and Hartford. The community works hard to support new businesses, withdiscounts on utilities and property tax cuts in certain sections of the town. Wallingford is home to several industrial parks, too, which has helped pave the way for medical, healthcare, service and high-tech enterprises to open up shop.

9. North Haven

North Haven is in New Haven County, just 10 minutes from New Haven and Yale University. The Greater New Haven area prides itself on having a diverse mix of urban, suburban and rural communities as well as being close to the natural beauty of the nearby Long Island Sound. Top employers in the town of North Haven include Covidien – the medical-device design and manufacturing firm – and Quinnipiac University, a private university in Hamden.

10. Westport

Westport is a coastal town between Bridgeport and Stamford. It boasts three beaches on Long Island Sound as well as a state park, Sherwood Island, where residents can swim and picnic. The community is one of the most affluent in the area – it has been recognized as such by Money Magazine – with a median household income of $155,792.

What do you think of Middletown making the list of best Connecticut cities? Tell us in the comments below.