Compare towns
Durham vs Brooklyn vs Middlefield vs Beacon Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the highest household income ($152k).
Brooklyn has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).
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 | Durham | Brooklyn | Middlefield | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,347Lowest |
8,517Highest |
4,243 |
6,147 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +28.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 47.9±5.4 17% above CT |
45.6±2.5Lowest 11% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
48.4±3.8 18% 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 | 15%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Brooklyn and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.5 CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4 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+ | 42.4% CT: 42.5% |
23.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,396±$32kHighest 59% above CT |
$96,207±$15kLowest about the CT average |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
| Durham and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $401,700±$32kHighest 9% above CT |
$315,200±$28kLowest 14% below CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
| Durham and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$1k 9% above CT |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,921±$286 29% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,107Highest 7% above CT |
$4,538Lowest 32% below CT |
$6,853 3% above CT |
$6,534 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±35 CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% CT: 10% |
2.3% CT: 10% |
8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
85.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 min 6% below CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 20%±6.7 CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls and Durham 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Brooklyn School District | Regional School District 13 | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.2 |
| 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.