Compare towns
Durham vs Franklin 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 most people working from home (20.5%).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% 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 | Franklin | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,208Highest |
2,004Lowest |
4,243 |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
40.3±4.3Lowest about the CT average |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
27.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
$99,837±$20kLowest 4% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$326,200±$20kLowest 11% below CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
| Durham and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,853 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest 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 | 3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
| Durham and Middlefield 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 | — | #65 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Franklin School District | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.