Compare towns
Durham vs Mansfield 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).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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.
| Measure | Durham | Mansfield | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,208 |
25,358Highest |
4,243Lowest |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Durham and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest 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% CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$335,400±$20kLowest 9% 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 |
$1,602±$104 8% above CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$5,727Lowest 14% below CT |
$6,853 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Mansfield 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% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
25 minHighest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
| Mansfield 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 | #45 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Regional School District 13 |
| 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.