Compare towns

Durham vs Griswold 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%).
Griswold has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
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.

MeasureDurhamGriswoldMiddlefield
People
Population
7,208
11,530Highest
4,243Lowest
Median age
45.5±2.8Lowest
11% above CT
48.1±3.9
17% above CT
51.6±1.9Highest
26% above CT
Middlefield and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.4%±3.6
CT: 20.2%
18.5%±3.7Highest
CT: 20.2%
13.9%±4.1Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Griswold and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.4%±3.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
17.8%±3.5
CT: 18.5%
25.5%±7.2Highest
CT: 18.5%
Middlefield and Griswold 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%
19.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
41.5%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.5
CT: 7.1%
1.8%±1.1Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.7%±2.4Highest
CT: 7.1%
Middlefield and Durham 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
$78,719±$11kLowest
18% below CT
$99,837±$20k
4% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$424,800±$23kHighest
16% above CT
$275,900±$42kLowest
25% 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±$448Lowest
22% below CT
$1,177±$65
21% below CT
$3,501Highest
135% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,998Highest
20% above CT
$4,628Lowest
30% below CT
$6,853
3% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.9%±28.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
57.5%±15.5
CT: 52.6%
85.4%±52.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
Middlefield and Griswold 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%
7.6%
CT: 10%
8.1%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
73.3%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
86.5%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
9 yrs newer than CT
1977Highest
10 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
13% below CT
31 minHighest
17% above CT
25 min
6% below CT
Work from home
20.5%±6.4Highest
CT: 16%
9%±3.6Lowest
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 #118 of 149 in CT #65 of 149 in CT
School district Regional School District 13 Griswold School District Regional School District 13
High school in town Coginchaug Regional High School Griswold High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
8.9Lowest
11.5Highest
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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.