Compare towns
Middlefield vs Orange vs Durham vs Beacon Falls
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 kids (22.9% under 18).
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
Beacon Falls has the most affordable homes ($350k median).
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 | Durham | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,243Lowest |
14,315Highest |
7,208 |
6,147 |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
45.5±2.8Lowest 11% above CT |
48.4±3.8 18% above 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% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Beacon Falls 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% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 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±$20kLowest 4% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$101,516±$42k 6% 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 |
$424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
$350,300±$34kLowest 5% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$2,172±$161 46% above CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,921±$286 29% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853 3% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$7,998 20% above CT |
$6,534Lowest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 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% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
85.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4 CT: 16% |
| Durham and Beacon Falls 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 13 | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9Lowest |
11.2Highest |
| 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.