Rents are right about where Middletown's 10-year trend predicts.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,962 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
February. Asking rents in Middletown usually run 2.2% below trend in February and 1.8% above it in July, about $78 a month apart at today's median. Based on 7 years of data.
Rent in Middletown is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2016.
Rent in Middletown changed +4.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 41 Connecticut cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.7%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Middletown rose 45.4% while median household income rose 21.1% ($65,572 to $79,438). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Middletown is 54.6% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($79,438) is $1,986 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,710); a 3-bedroom is $2,060.
New Britain, 11 miles away, rents for 15% less ($1,661/mo), about $3,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Middletown. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Middletown, CT is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, 40.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Middletown, CT has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Middletown, CT paid around $1,362 a month. That figure now sits near $1,962, up 44.1% from the 2021 baseline. Median household income climbed from $67,485 to $79,438 between 2021 and 2024, a 17.7% shift. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Middletown, CT adding about 794 residents over the five-year window, up 1.7% on net. Taken together, the five-year picture in Middletown, CT reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.
Discussions about Middletown
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Middletown on your salary?
At $1,962/mo, how Middletown rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Middletown rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Middletown. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Middletown
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Middletown is $1,962/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,170/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,710/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,350/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,060/mo.
At 30% of local median household income ($79,438/yr), Middletown ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Middletown?
Is rent going up or down in Middletown?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Middletown?
Has rent outpaced income in Middletown?
How does Middletown rent compare to other cities in Connecticut?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Middletown?
At $1,962/mo, rent takes ~30% of Middletown's median household income ($79,438/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Middletown.
No discussions yet.