Compare towns
Middlefield vs Orange vs Brooklyn 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).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k 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.
| Measure | Middlefield | Orange | Brooklyn | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,243 |
14,315Highest |
8,517 |
3,347Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +28.6% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
45.6±2.4Lowest 11% above CT |
45.6±2.5Lowest 11% above 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% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
15%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Brooklyn 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% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.1%±4.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Orange 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% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
42.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Orange 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 |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$96,207±$15kLowest about the CT average |
$152,396±$32kHighest 59% above CT |
| Durham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$315,200±$28kLowest 14% below CT |
$401,700±$32k 9% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$2,172±$161 46% above CT |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,625±$1k 9% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853 3% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,538Lowest 32% below CT |
$7,107 7% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.7%±35 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Orange 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% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
24 minLowest 10% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
20%±6.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Durham and Orange 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Brooklyn School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.