Compare towns
Middlefield vs Redding vs Middletown 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 housing (typical home built 1961).
Redding has the most expensive homes ($706k median).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).
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 | Redding | Middletown | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,243Lowest |
8,780 |
47,958Highest |
6,147 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9 26% above CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT |
48.4±3.8 18% above CT |
| Redding and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3 CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Redding and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±7.2 CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Redding 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% |
72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$295,300±$11kLowest 20% below CT |
$350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$2,101±$304 41% above CT |
$1,446±$45Lowest about the CT average |
$1,921±$286 29% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853 3% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$6,412Lowest 3% below CT |
$6,534 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Redding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
4% CT: 10% |
12%Highest CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
85.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
33 min 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4 CT: 16% |
| Redding 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 | #14 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | Joel Barlow High School | Middletown High School | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.8Highest |
11.2 |
| 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.