Compare towns
Durham vs Chaplin 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).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Beacon Falls has the most kids (18% under 18).
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 | Chaplin | Middlefield | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,347 |
2,070Lowest |
4,243 |
6,147Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +28.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 47.9±5.4 17% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% 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% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Beacon Falls and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 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% |
25.4%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% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Middlefield 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 |
$97,846±$14kLowest 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 |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% 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 |
$1,473±$275Lowest about the CT average |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,921±$286 29% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,107Highest 7% above CT |
$4,524Lowest 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% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest 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% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
85.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 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 |
32 min 22% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 20%±6.7 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest 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 | — | #65 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Regional School District 13 | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | — | Parish Hill High School | None in town | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
| 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.