Compare towns
Middlefield vs Chaplin 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 oldest population (median age 51.6).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Durham has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Chaplin | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,243Highest |
2,070Lowest |
3,347 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +28.6% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
47.9±5.4 17% above CT |
| Middlefield and Durham 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% |
15.7%±4.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
15%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Chaplin 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% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
19.1%±4.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Chaplin 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% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
42.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$152,396±$32kHighest 59% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$401,700±$32kHighest 9% above CT |
| Durham and Middlefield 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 |
$1,473±$275Lowest about the CT average |
$1,625±$1k 9% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853 3% above CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$7,107Highest 7% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.7%±35 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 | 8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
24 minLowest 10% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
20%±6.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Durham and Chaplin 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 | — | #88 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5 |
— |
| 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.