Compare towns
Middlefield vs Westbrook 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 most homeowners (86.5%).
Westbrook has the most expensive homes ($434k median).
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 | Westbrook | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,243Lowest |
6,856Highest |
6,147 |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9 26% above CT |
58.2±3.7Highest 42% above CT |
48.4±3.8Lowest 18% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
9.6%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Beacon Falls 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% |
36%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Westbrook 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% |
41.8% CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$91,202±$23kLowest 5% below CT |
$101,516±$42kHighest 6% above CT |
| Beacon Falls 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±$27k about the CT average |
$434,300±$42kHighest 18% above CT |
$350,300±$34kLowest 5% below CT |
| Westbrook 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 |
$1,425±$176Lowest 4% below CT |
$1,921±$286 29% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$5,829Lowest 12% below CT |
$6,534 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±17.2 CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Westbrook 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% |
7% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
75.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
85.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
19%±5 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls and Westbrook 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 | #59 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Westbrook School District | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | Westbrook High School | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 6.3Lowest |
11.2Highest |
| 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.