Compare towns

Middlefield vs Killingly vs Meriden 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).
Meriden has the most affordable homes ($241k median).
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.

MeasureMiddlefieldKillinglyMeridenDurham
People
Population
4,243
17,867
60,545Highest
3,347Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
0%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
+28.6%Highest
CT: +0.9%
Median age
51.6±1.9Highest
26% above CT
39.5±3
4% below CT
38.9±1.3Lowest
5% below 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%
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
21.9%±1.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
15%±4.6
CT: 20.2%
Meriden and Killingly 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%
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
16.2%±1.2Lowest
CT: 18.5%
19.1%±4.5
CT: 18.5%
Middlefield and Killingly 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%
22.9%
CT: 42.5%
22.2%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
42.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.4Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±0.9
CT: 7.1%
4.2%±2.1Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Middlefield and Meriden 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
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$71,253±$4kLowest
26% below CT
$152,396±$32kHighest
59% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$376,000±$27k
about the CT average
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$241,200±$7kLowest
34% 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
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,294±$72
13% below CT
$1,625±$1k
9% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,853
3% above CT
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$5,129
23% below CT
$7,107Highest
7% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
85.4%±52.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
CT: 52.6%
53.4%±4.9
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%
CT: 10%
11.4%
CT: 10%
13.2%Highest
CT: 10%
6.1%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%
CT: 66.5%
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
60.1%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
90%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
6 yrs older than CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1960Lowest
7 yrs older than CT
1975Highest
8 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below CT
28 minHighest
5% above CT
23 minLowest
13% below CT
24 min
10% below CT
Work from home
10.9%±4.1
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
8.6%±1.6Lowest
CT: 16%
20%±6.7Highest
CT: 16%
Durham and Killingly 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 #136 of 149 in CT #124 of 149 in CT #88 of 149 in CT
School district Regional School District 13 Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District —
High school in town None in town Killingly High School Francis T. Maloney High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Lowest
16.2Highest
—
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.