Compare towns
Durham vs Guilford 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 ($159k).
Guilford has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Middlefield has the most affordable homes ($376k 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 | Guilford | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,208 |
22,108Highest |
4,243Lowest |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8Lowest 11% above CT |
51.1±1.9 24% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
| Middlefield and Guilford 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% |
20.8%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Guilford 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% |
26.6%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Guilford and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9% CT: 42.5% |
60.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Guilford 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 |
$137,816±$11k 44% above CT |
$99,837±$20kLowest 4% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
$515,800±$40kHighest 41% above CT |
$376,000±$27kLowest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,717±$128 15% above CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998 20% above CT |
$8,744Highest 32% above CT |
$6,853Lowest 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47.4%±9 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% CT: 10% |
2.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
26 minHighest about the CT average |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
21.7%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
| Guilford 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 | #15 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Guilford School District | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Guilford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
11.8Highest |
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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.