Compare towns

Durham vs Mansfield vs Marlborough

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 expensive homes ($425k median).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Marlborough has the most kids (23.6% under 18).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureDurhamMansfieldMarlborough
People
Population
7,208
25,358Highest
6,130Lowest
Median age
45.5±2.8Highest
11% above CT
21.2±0.2Lowest
48% below CT
41.8±4.7
about the CT average
Durham and Marlborough 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%
9.2%±1.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
23.6%±5.2Highest
CT: 20.2%
Marlborough and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.4%±3.7Highest
CT: 18.5%
11%±1.5Lowest
CT: 18.5%
16.3%±3.5
CT: 18.5%
Durham and Marlborough 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%
57.9%Highest
CT: 42.5%
45.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.5Lowest
CT: 7.1%
57%±2.5Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.1%±2.6
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$158,857±$7kHighest
66% above CT
$72,393±$12kLowest
24% below CT
$142,105±$35k
48% above CT
Durham and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$424,800±$23kHighest
16% above CT
$335,400±$20kLowest
9% below CT
$379,100±$33k
3% above CT
Durham and Marlborough 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
$1,602±$104Highest
8% above CT
$1,333±$438
10% below CT
Mansfield and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,998Highest
20% above CT
$5,727Lowest
14% below CT
$7,397
11% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.9%±28.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
76%±9.6Highest
CT: 52.6%
59.2%±36
CT: 52.6%
Mansfield and Marlborough 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%
21.6%Highest
CT: 10%
9.7%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
57.3%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
92.6%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
9 yrs newer than CT
1976Lowest
9 yrs newer than CT
1977Highest
10 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
13% below CT
21 minLowest
22% below CT
34 minHighest
29% above CT
Work from home
20.5%±6.4Lowest
CT: 16%
28.3%±3.3
CT: 16%
33.2%±8.9Highest
CT: 16%
Marlborough and Mansfield 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 #45 of 149 in CT #52 of 149 in CT
School district Regional School District 13 Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District Marlborough School District
High school in town Coginchaug Regional High School E. O. Smith 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.