Compare towns
Durham vs Durham vs Thompson 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 most expensive homes ($425k median).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | Durham | Thompson | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,347Lowest |
7,208 |
9,337Highest |
6,147 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +28.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 47.9±5.4 17% above CT |
45.5±2.8Lowest 11% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
48.4±3.8 18% above CT |
| Thompson 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% |
16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Beacon Falls and Durham 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% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson 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% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Beacon Falls and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,396±$32k 59% above CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average |
$101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
| Durham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $401,700±$32k 9% above CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$291,900±$24kLowest 20% below CT |
$350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
| Durham and Durham 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 |
$1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
| Beacon Falls and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,107 7% above CT |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,534 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±35Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Durham and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.1%Highest CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
85.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 20%±6.7 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4 CT: 16% |
| Durham and Beacon Falls 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Regional School District 13 | Thompson School District | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | — | Coginchaug Regional High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
7.9Lowest |
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.