Population 165,840 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Middlesex County
Household size in Middlesex County
| Period | Middlesex County | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.40 | 2.51 | 2.57 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.44 | 2.52 | 2.61 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.37 | 2.49 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.35 | 2.47 | 2.55 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.05 | −0.04 | −0.02 | −0.03 |
Middlesex County is a place of small households, averaging 2.35 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has edged down from 2.40 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the north.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Middlesex County
| Period | Middlesex County | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.8 | 40.4 | 40.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.8 | 41.2 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.4 | 41.9 | 42.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.3 | 41.9 | 42.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.6 | +1.5 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Middlesex County skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.3, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 42.8 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Middlesex County
| Period | Middlesex County | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.6% | 11.4% | 11.2% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 12.1% | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.7% | 10.7% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.8% | 11.0% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | −0.4 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Middlesex County than nationally: 8.8%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share is little changed from 2006–10, while the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Middlesex County
Renters in Middlesex County
| Period | Middlesex County | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.2% | 31.0% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.7% | 32.4% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.5% | 33.7% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.0% | 32.7% | 33.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | +1.7 pts | +2.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Middlesex County own their homes; 25.0% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 37.6% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the northwest and least common in the south. The renter share has edged up 0.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Middlesex County
| Period | Middlesex County | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.5% | 8.0% | 8.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.1% | 8.2% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.7% | 9.2% | 10.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.5% | 7.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Middlesex County as nationally: 9.5%, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the Hartford area overall (7.7%).
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Middlesex County
| Period | Middlesex County | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1969 | 1964 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1970 | 1965 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1969 | 1966 | 1964 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1970 | 1967 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Middlesex County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1970, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The picture is much the same across the Hartford area.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Middlesex County
| Period | Middlesex County | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,035 | $1,014 | $1,127 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,160 | $1,114 | $1,218 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,231 | $1,229 | $1,380 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,540 | $1,559 | $1,702 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$505 | +$545 | +$575 | +$606 |
The median renter in Middlesex County pays $1,540 a month for rent and utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $505 a month from 2006–10, a 49% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 31.8% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the west and lowest in the north.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Middlesex County
Bachelor's degrees in Middlesex County
| Period | Middlesex County | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.2% | 35.0% | 35.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 39.7% | 36.2% | 37.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 41.8% | 39.1% | 39.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 44.7% | 41.8% | 42.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.5 pts | +6.8 pts | +6.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than four in ten adults 25 and older in Middlesex County (44.7%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national share of 35.6%. The Hartford area as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 7.5 points, in line with the national trend.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Middlesex County
| Period | Middlesex County | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.2% | 88.3% | 88.1% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.7% | 89.6% | 89.2% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.1% | 90.7% | 90.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.2% | 91.8% | 91.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | +3.5 pts | +3.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Middlesex County: 95.2% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 3.0 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Middlesex County
| Period | Middlesex County | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.6% | 7.6% | 7.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.7% | 9.5% | 9.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.7% | 5.7% | 6.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.9% | 5.2% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Middlesex County than nationally: unemployment was 3.9%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 1.7 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Middlesex County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesex County | 2.35 | 45.3 | 8.8% | 25.0% | 9.5% | 1970 | $1,540 | 44.7% | 95.2% | 3.9% |
| New Haven County | 2.53 | 41.7 | 13.5% | 37.6% | 8.0% | 1964 | $1,584 | 38.5% | 90.6% | 6.4% |
| New London County | 2.38 | 43.4 | 11.4% | 32.4% | 9.7% | 1968 | $1,478 | 36.6% | 93.5% | 4.9% |
| Washington County | 2.38 | 46.0 | 7.7% | 22.5% | 16.6% | 1976 | $1,461 | 53.6% | 95.8% | 4.6% |
| Putnam County | 2.72 | 44.4 | 7.9% | 16.2% | 8.6% | 1968 | $1,962 | 45.3% | 92.8% | 4.5% |
| Newport County | 2.25 | 46.8 | 6.9% | 32.1% | 14.5% | 1965 | $1,760 | 54.1% | 95.6% | 5.6% |
| Orange County | 3.09 | 37.6 | 10.4% | 32.2% | 8.9% | 1976 | $1,781 | 30.9% | 88.8% | 5.3% |
| Dukes County | 2.86 | 50.5 | 12.4% | 17.9% | 51.7% | 1981 | $1,542 | 53.3% | 96.2% | 5.5% |
| Pike County | 2.54 | 48.4 | 8.7% | 13.0% | 31.0% | 1984 | $1,426 | 30.0% | 92.9% | 7.6% |
| Wayne County | 2.35 | 49.3 | 9.3% | 19.5% | 28.3% | 1977 | $1,056 | 24.3% | 92.4% | 5.8% |
| Lackawanna County | 2.40 | 42.6 | 12.5% | 34.6% | 11.9% | 1957 | $1,067 | 30.8% | 91.6% | 5.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Pitt County, NC · Indian River County, FL · Jackson County, MI · Johnson County, IN · Kenosha County, WI · Kent County, RI · Kenton County, KY · Aiken County, SC · Lee County, AL · McLean County, IL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Middlesex County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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