Compare towns
Middlefield vs Sprague 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).
Sprague has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Durham has the highest household income ($152k).
Beacon Falls has the most kids (18% 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.
| Measure | Middlefield | Sprague | Durham | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,243 |
2,962Lowest |
3,347 |
6,147Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +28.6% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
48.5±10.7 18% above CT |
47.9±5.4Lowest 17% above CT |
48.4±3.8 18% above CT |
| Middlefield and Sprague 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% |
17.1%±5.4 CT: 20.2% |
15%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Beacon Falls and Sprague 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% |
19.9%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
19.1%±4.5Lowest 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% CT: 42.5% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
42.4% CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Beacon Falls 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 |
$92,850±$11kLowest 3% below CT |
$152,396±$32kHighest 59% above CT |
$101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
| Durham and Beacon Falls 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 |
$273,500±$17kLowest 25% below CT |
$401,700±$32kHighest 9% above CT |
$350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
| Durham 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 |
$1,247±$144Lowest 16% below CT |
$1,625±$1k 9% above CT |
$1,921±$286 29% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853 3% above CT |
$4,668Lowest 30% below CT |
$7,107Highest 7% above CT |
$6,534 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.7%±35 CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Durham 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% |
8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
85.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
30 min 12% above CT |
24 minLowest 10% below CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
20%±6.7 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls and Durham 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 | #141 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Sprague School District | — | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 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.