Compare towns
Durham vs Middlefield vs Putnam 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 most people working from home (20.5%).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
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 | Middlefield | Putnam | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,208 |
4,243Lowest |
7,120 |
7,807Highest |
| 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 |
44.4±2.3 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
22%±3.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Middlebury and Putnam 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% |
22.7%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield 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% CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
53.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±2.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Middlebury and Middlefield 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 |
$133,487±$26k 39% above CT |
| Durham and Middlebury 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 |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$476,400±$23kHighest 30% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,147±$43 23% below CT |
$398±$387Lowest 73% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998 20% above CT |
$6,853 3% above CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$8,434Highest 27% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
12.7%±6.9Lowest 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% |
5.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
87.8% 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 |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
25 min 5% 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% |
15.3%±3.2 CT: 16% |
| Durham and Middlebury 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 | #55 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Regional School District 13 | — | Regional School District 15 |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.