Compare towns
Middlefield vs Mansfield vs Hampton 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 housing (typical home built 1961).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Hampton has the most kids (19.7% under 18).
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Hampton | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,243 |
25,358Highest |
1,647Lowest |
7,208 |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
51.5±5.3 25% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
| Middlefield and Hampton 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% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Hampton and Durham 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% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton 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% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
29.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
$295,800±$27kLowest 19% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% 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 |
$1,602±$104 8% above CT |
$1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853 3% above CT |
$5,727 14% below CT |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6 CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Mansfield 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 | #45 of 149 in CT | — | #88 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Hampton School District | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | E. O. Smith High School | None in town | Coginchaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
| 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.