Compare towns
Durham vs Middlefield vs Sprague
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).
Sprague has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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 | Sprague |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,347 |
4,243Highest |
2,962Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +28.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 47.9±5.4Lowest 17% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
48.5±10.7 18% above CT |
| Middlefield and Sprague 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% |
17.1%±5.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sprague and Durham 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% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.9%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield 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±$32kHighest 59% above CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$92,850±$11kLowest 3% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $401,700±$32kHighest 9% above CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$273,500±$17kLowest 25% 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 |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,247±$144Lowest 16% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,107Highest 7% above CT |
$6,853 3% above CT |
$4,668Lowest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±35 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.9%±12.2Lowest 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%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
30 minHighest 12% above CT |
| Work from home | 20%±6.7Highest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Durham and Middlefield 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 | #141 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Regional School District 13 | Sprague School District |
| 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.