Compare towns
Durham vs Suffield vs Beacon Falls 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 housing (typical home built 1975).
Suffield has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
Beacon Falls has the most affordable homes ($350k median).
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 | Suffield | Beacon Falls | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,347Lowest |
15,702Highest |
6,147 |
7,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +28.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 47.9±5.4 17% above CT |
44.5±1.7Lowest 8% above CT |
48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
| Beacon Falls and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15%±4.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6 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% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Beacon Falls 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% |
40.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Beacon Falls and Suffield 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 |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$101,516±$42kLowest 6% 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 |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$350,300±$34kLowest 5% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
| Durham and Suffield 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 |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below 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 |
$6,456Lowest about the CT average |
$6,534 about the CT average |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±35Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Durham and Suffield 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% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
85.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 20%±6.7 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Suffield School District | Regional School District 16 | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | — | Suffield High School | Woodland Regional High School | Coginchaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
11.2Highest |
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.