Compare towns
Durham vs Middlefield vs Orange
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 people working from home (20%).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Orange has the most kids (22.9% 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 | Middlefield | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,347Lowest |
4,243 |
14,315Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +28.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 47.9±5.4 17% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
45.6±2.4Lowest 11% above CT |
| Middlefield and Durham 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% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Orange 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% |
41.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Orange 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 |
$99,837±$20kLowest 4% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
| Durham and Orange 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 |
$376,000±$27kLowest about the CT average |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$1kLowest 9% above CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$2,172±$161 46% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,107 7% above CT |
$6,853Lowest 3% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±35Lowest CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% CT: 10% |
8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 20%±6.7Highest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Durham and Orange 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 | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Regional School District 13 | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.