Signals
Fitchburg
Middletown
Opportunity
46 · Bottom 29%
vs35 · Bottom 10%
Growth
31 · Bottom 19%
vs40 · Bottom 33%
Climate
60 · Bottom 14%
vs62 · Bottom 22%
Housing affordability
77 · Bottom 44%
vs83 · Top 46%
Access
86 · Bottom 32%
vs89 · Bottom 38%
Economic stability
55 · Bottom 39%
vs59 · Bottom 47%
Measured values
| Metric | Fitchburg | Middletown | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 41,798 | 47,958 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $73,040 | $79,438 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,302 | $45,165 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,502/sq mi | 1,169/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $336,400 | $295,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,222 | $1,446 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 54.1% | 52.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.1% | 5.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.3% | -5.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.1% | 40.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 15.6% | 12.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 12 | 19 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.3 | 0.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -58.6% | 18.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 16°F | 19°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.4" | 44.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 30 mi | 27 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.7 min | 25.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.3 | 38.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 10 | 12 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 11.95 | 12.11 | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Fitchburg
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Middletown
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
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Fitchburg
58
Your Score
56
Area Score
Middletown
61
Your Score
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Area Score
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Full profiles: Fitchburg, MA · Middletown, CT · How this is calculated: methodology