Compare towns
Durham vs Windham 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).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).
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 | Windham | Middlefield | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,347Lowest |
23,961Highest |
4,243 |
6,147 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +28.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 47.9±5.4 17% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below 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% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Windham and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.5 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest 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% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,396±$32kHighest 59% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
| Durham and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $401,700±$32kHighest 9% above CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$350,300±$34k 5% 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 |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,921±$286 29% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,107Highest 7% above CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$6,853 3% above CT |
$6,534 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±35 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4Lowest 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% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
85.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 20%±6.7 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 13 | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | None in town | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
— | 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.