Compare towns
Durham vs Suffield vs Beacon Falls vs Middlefield
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).
Suffield has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
Beacon Falls has the most kids (18% under 18).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,347Lowest |
15,702Highest |
6,147 |
4,243 |
| 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±3.8 18% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% 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% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Beacon Falls and Suffield 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%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest 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% |
40.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Beacon Falls 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 |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
$99,837±$20kLowest 4% above CT |
| Durham and Suffield 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±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$350,300±$34kLowest 5% below CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
| Suffield 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 |
$1,424±$141Lowest 4% below CT |
$1,921±$286 29% above CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,107Highest 7% above CT |
$6,456Lowest about the CT average |
$6,534 about the CT average |
$6,853 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±35 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest 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% CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
85.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 20%±6.7 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT | #65 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 | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— |
| 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.