Compare towns
Middlefield vs Bethlehem vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlefield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Durham has the most people working from home (20%).
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 | Middlefield | Bethlehem | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,243Highest |
3,423 |
3,347Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +28.6% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
47.9±5.4Lowest 17% above CT |
| Middlefield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Highest CT: 20.2% |
15%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethlehem and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
19.1%±4.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.5% CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
42.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,837±$20kLowest 4% above CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$152,396±$32kHighest 59% above CT |
| Durham and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,000±$27kLowest about the CT average |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$401,700±$32k 9% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,625±$1k 9% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853 3% above CT |
$5,932Lowest 11% below CT |
$7,107Highest 7% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
57.7%±35Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
6.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
24 minLowest 10% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
20%±6.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Durham and Bethlehem 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 | #65 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Regional School District 14 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.