Compare towns
Beacon Falls vs Middlefield vs Willimantic vs Oxford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Oxford has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Beacon Falls | Middlefield | Willimantic | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,147 |
4,243Lowest |
18,096Highest |
12,991 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 48.4±3.8 18% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
45.2±5.7 10% above CT |
| Middlefield and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
21.3%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Oxford and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.9%±3.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6% CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
46.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$128,953±$23kHighest 35% above CT |
| Oxford and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$472,400±$20kHighest 29% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,921±$286 29% above CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,415±$87 5% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,534 about the CT average |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$6,442 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
23.3%±15.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 18 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1986Highest 19 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
30 min 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
14.4%±3.7 CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls and Oxford 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 | #77 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT | — | #78 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Regional School District 13 | — | Oxford School District |
| High school in town | Woodland Regional High School | None in town | — | Oxford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | — | 10.1Lowest |
| 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.