Compare towns
Durham vs Middlefield vs Putnam
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%).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
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 | Middlefield | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,208Highest |
4,243Lowest |
7,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
41.2±5.1Lowest about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Durham 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% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
17%±3.7Lowest 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Putnam 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 |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
| 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±$448 22% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,147±$43Lowest 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$6,853 3% above CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield 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% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
25 minHighest 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest 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 | #65 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Regional School District 13 | — |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9 |
— | — |
| 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.