Compare towns
Durham vs Orange 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).
Orange has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Beacon Falls has the most affordable homes ($350k 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 | Orange | Middlefield | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,347Lowest |
14,315Highest |
4,243 |
6,147 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +28.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 47.9±5.4 17% above CT |
45.6±2.4Lowest 11% 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% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Beacon Falls 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% |
23%±2.7 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% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 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 |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$99,837±$20kLowest 4% above CT |
$101,516±$42k 6% 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 |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$350,300±$34kLowest 5% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$1kLowest 9% above CT |
$2,172±$161 46% above CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,921±$286 29% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,107 7% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$6,853 3% above CT |
$6,534Lowest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±35 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4Lowest 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% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
85.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older 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 |
28 min 4% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 20%±6.7 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 13 | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.2 |
| 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.