Compare towns
Durham vs Madison vs Hebron vs Middlebury
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Madison has the most expensive homes ($584k median).
Hebron has the most affordable homes ($386k median).
Middlebury has the most kids (22% under 18).
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 | Madison | Hebron | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,208Lowest |
17,616Highest |
9,157 |
7,807 |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
45.1±2.7 10% above CT |
44.4±2.3Lowest 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.1%±2.2 CT: 20.2% |
20.8%±3.3 CT: 20.2% |
22%±3.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Middlebury and Hebron 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% |
25.2%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
22.7%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Madison and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
52.7% CT: 42.5% |
53.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±2.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,857±$7k 66% above CT |
$167,442±$16kHighest 75% above CT |
$142,500±$23k 49% above CT |
$133,487±$26kLowest 39% above CT |
| Madison and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
$583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT |
$385,800±$15kLowest 5% above CT |
$476,400±$23k 30% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT |
$1,635±$241 10% above CT |
$398±$387Lowest 73% below CT |
| Madison and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998Lowest 20% above CT |
$8,843Highest 33% above CT |
$8,263 24% above CT |
$8,434 27% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
44%±12.3 CT: 52.6% |
61.5%±28.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
12.7%±6.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Hebron 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% |
3.6% CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
5.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
90.4% CT: 66.5% |
88.8% CT: 66.5% |
87.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1986Highest 19 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
30 min 12% above CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
27.2%±4.6 CT: 16% |
15.3%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Madison and Hebron 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 | #7 of 149 in CT | #28 of 149 in CT | #55 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Madison School District | Hebron School District · Regional School District 08 | Regional School District 15 |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Daniel Hand High School | RHAM High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
9.8Highest |
9.3 |
— |
| 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.