Compare towns
Durham vs Middlefield vs Westbrook
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).
Middlefield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Westbrook has the oldest population (median age 58.2).
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 | Westbrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,208Highest |
4,243Lowest |
6,856 |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8Lowest 11% above CT |
51.6±1.9 26% above CT |
58.2±3.7Highest 42% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
9.6%±2.6Lowest 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%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2 CT: 18.5% |
36%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Westbrook and Middlefield 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Durham 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 |
$91,202±$23kLowest 5% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
$376,000±$27kLowest about the CT average |
$434,300±$42kHighest 18% above CT |
| Westbrook and Durham 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 |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,425±$176 4% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$6,853 3% above CT |
$5,829Lowest 12% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±17.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Westbrook 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%Highest CT: 10% |
7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
75.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below CT |
25 minHighest 6% below CT |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
19%±5 CT: 16% |
| Durham and Westbrook 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 | #59 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Regional School District 13 | Westbrook School District |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | None in town | Westbrook High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Highest |
— | 6.3Lowest |
| 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.