Compare towns
Middlefield vs Upton vs Meriden vs Beacon Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Meriden has the most affordable homes ($241k median).
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 | Upton | Meriden | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,243Lowest |
8,189 |
60,545Highest |
6,147 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9Highest 33% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
38.9±1.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.4±3.8 24% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlefield and Meriden 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 24% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$71,253±$4kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$101,516±$42k 26% above U.S. |
| Upton 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 13% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$241,200±$7kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$350,300±$34k 5% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,501Highest 148% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,294±$72 8% below U.S. |
$1,921±$286 36% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853 120% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,129Lowest 64% above U.S. |
$6,534 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±52.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±4.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±30.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middlefield and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
60.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #124 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Francis T. Maloney High School | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
16.2Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.