Compare towns
Middlefield vs Hamden vs Beacon Falls vs Middletown
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 expensive homes ($376k median).
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% 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 | Hamden | Beacon Falls | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,243Lowest |
61,045Highest |
6,147 |
47,958 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
48.4±3.8 18% above CT |
38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT |
| Middlefield and Beacon Falls 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%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Beacon Falls and Hamden 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% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Beacon Falls 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% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
40.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Middletown and Hamden 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 |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$101,516±$42kHighest 6% above CT |
$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
| Beacon Falls and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,000±$27kHighest about the CT average |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
$295,300±$11kLowest 20% below CT |
| Middlefield and Beacon Falls 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 |
$1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,921±$286 29% above CT |
$1,446±$45Lowest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853 3% above CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$6,534 about the CT average |
$6,412Lowest 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
12%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
85.5% CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls and Hamden 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 | #122 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Regional School District 16 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services |
| High school in town | None in town | Hamden High School | Woodland Regional High School | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
11.2Lowest |
11.8 |
| 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.