Compare towns
Middlefield vs Colebrook vs Durham vs Beacon Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colebrook has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
Beacon Falls has the most renters (14.5% 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 | Middlefield | Colebrook | Durham | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,243 |
1,494Lowest |
7,208Highest |
6,147 |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9 26% above CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
45.5±2.8Lowest 11% above CT |
48.4±3.8 18% above CT |
| Colebrook and Middlefield 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% |
17.9%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Beacon Falls and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±7.2 CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Colebrook and Middlefield 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% |
36.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Colebrook 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 |
$111,250±$17k 16% above CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$342,800±$19kLowest 7% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$350,300±$34k 5% 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 | $3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,333±$626 10% below CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,921±$286 29% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853 3% above CT |
$6,211Lowest 7% below CT |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$6,534 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
85.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
33 min 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4 CT: 16% |
| Durham and Beacon Falls 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 | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Colebrook School District | Regional School District 13 | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9Lowest |
11.2Highest |
| 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.