What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).

Salem has the most kids (23.2% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Middlefield	Salem
People
Population	4,243Lowest	4,282Highest
Median age	51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT	40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average
Kids under 18	13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2%	23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5%	19.7%±4.7Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Middlefield and Salem 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%	50.6%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1%	5.8%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1%
	Salem and Middlefield 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	$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT
	Salem and Middlefield 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	$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT
	Salem 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	$1,440±$150Lowest 3% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,853Highest 3% above CT	$6,668Lowest about the CT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6%	32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Middlefield and Salem 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%	6.2%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.5%Lowest CT: 66.5%	86.6%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT	1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below CT	32 minHighest 19% above CT
Work from home	10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16%	18%±9.6Highest CT: 16%
	Salem and Middlefield 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	#11 of 149 in CT
School district	Regional School District 13	Salem School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.