Compare towns
Middlefield vs Sharon 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 most affordable homes ($376k median).
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($591k median).
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
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 | Sharon | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,243 |
2,723Lowest |
7,208Highest |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9 26% above CT |
59.5±6Highest 45% above CT |
45.5±2.8Lowest 11% above CT |
| Sharon and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
7.2%±3.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Durham and Middlefield 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% |
37.9%±9.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Sharon 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
56.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Durham 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 |
$100,518±$15k 5% above CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,000±$27kLowest about the CT average |
$590,700±$156kHighest 61% above CT |
$424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
| Sharon and Durham 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 |
$1,750±$1k 18% above CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853 3% above CT |
$4,484Lowest 33% below CT |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
64%±16.2 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
72.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
18.7%±6.8 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Durham and Sharon 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 | — | #88 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Sharon School District | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Coginchaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.