Compare towns
Middlefield vs Lyme 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).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($630k median).
Durham has the most kids (16.4% under 18).
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 | Lyme | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,243 |
2,303Lowest |
7,208Highest |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9 26% above CT |
55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
45.5±2.8Lowest 11% above CT |
| Lyme and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Durham and Middlefield 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% |
30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Lyme 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Durham 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 |
$135,000±$22k 41% above CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
| Durham and Lyme 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 |
$629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
$424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,719±$1k 16% above CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853Lowest 3% above CT |
$7,328 10% above CT |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 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% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.8% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Lyme and Durham 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 | Regional School District 18 | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Coginchaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
| 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.