Compare towns
Middlefield vs Suffield 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).
Suffield has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Suffield | Durham | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,243 |
15,702Highest |
3,347Lowest |
6,147 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +28.6% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
44.5±1.7Lowest 8% above CT |
47.9±5.4 17% 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% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
15%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Beacon Falls and Suffield 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% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.1%±4.5 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% |
40.4%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% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±2.1Lowest 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±$20kLowest 4% above CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$152,396±$32kHighest 59% above CT |
$101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
| Durham and Suffield 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 |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$401,700±$32k 9% above CT |
$350,300±$34kLowest 5% below CT |
| Suffield 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 |
$1,424±$141Lowest 4% below CT |
$1,625±$1k 9% above CT |
$1,921±$286 29% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853 3% above CT |
$6,456Lowest about the CT average |
$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% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
57.7%±35 CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4Lowest 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% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
85.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer 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 |
26 min 3% below CT |
24 minLowest 10% below CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Suffield School District | — | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | — | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Lowest |
— | 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.