Compare towns
Durham vs Middletown vs Prospect vs Durham
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 oldest population (median age 47.9).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Prospect has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Durham has the most expensive homes ($425k 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 | Middletown | Prospect | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,347Lowest |
47,958Highest |
9,458 |
7,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +28.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
+0.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 47.9±5.4Highest 17% above CT |
38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT |
46.8±3.9 14% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
| Durham and Prospect 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% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect 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% |
16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect and Durham 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% |
40.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.3% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,396±$32k 59% above CT |
$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% 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 |
$295,300±$11kLowest 20% below CT |
$355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above 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 |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
$1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
| Prospect 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 |
$6,412Lowest 3% below CT |
$6,504 about the CT average |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±35Highest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Durham and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% CT: 10% |
12%Highest CT: 10% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1972Lowest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 20%±6.7 CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Durham 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 | #121 of 149 in CT | #50 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Regional School District 16 | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | — | Middletown High School | None in town | Coginchaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
| 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.