Compare towns

Middlefield vs Westbrook vs Durham vs Middletown

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 housing (typical home built 1961).
Westbrook has the oldest population (median age 58.2).
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).

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.

MeasureMiddlefieldWestbrookDurhamMiddletown
People
Population
4,243Lowest
6,856
7,208
47,958Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — — —
+0.1%
CT: +0.9%
Median age
51.6±1.9
26% above CT
58.2±3.7Highest
42% above CT
45.5±2.8
11% above CT
38.1±1.5Lowest
7% below CT
Kids under 18
13.9%±4.1
CT: 20.2%
9.6%±2.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
16.4%±3.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
14.3%±1.3
CT: 20.2%
Durham and Middletown 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%
17.4%±3.7
CT: 18.5%
16.5%±1.3Lowest
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%
CT: 42.5%
41.8%
CT: 42.5%
47.9%Highest
CT: 42.5%
40.2%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.4
CT: 7.1%
3.4%±1.6Lowest
CT: 7.1%
3.6%±1.5
CT: 7.1%
15.5%±1.4Highest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$99,837±$20k
4% above CT
$91,202±$23k
5% below CT
$158,857±$7kHighest
66% above CT
$79,438±$6kLowest
17% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$376,000±$27k
about the CT average
$434,300±$42kHighest
18% above CT
$424,800±$23k
16% above CT
$295,300±$11kLowest
20% below CT
Westbrook 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
$1,425±$176
4% below CT
$1,154±$448Lowest
22% below CT
$1,446±$45
about the CT average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,853
3% above CT
$5,829Lowest
12% below CT
$7,998Highest
20% above CT
$6,412
3% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
85.4%±52.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
53.8%±17.2
CT: 52.6%
44.9%±28.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
47.7%±5.3
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%
CT: 10%
7%
CT: 10%
3.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
12%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%
CT: 66.5%
75.6%
CT: 66.5%
93.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
52.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1970
3 yrs newer than CT
1976Highest
9 yrs newer than CT
1972
5 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minHighest
6% below CT
21 minLowest
19% below CT
23 min
13% below CT
23 min
12% below CT
Work from home
10.9%±4.1Lowest
CT: 16%
19%±5
CT: 16%
20.5%±6.4Highest
CT: 16%
14.1%±1.8
CT: 16%
Durham 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 #88 of 149 in CT #121 of 149 in CT
School district Regional School District 13 Westbrook School District Regional School District 13 Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
High school in town None in town Westbrook High School Coginchaug Regional High School Middletown High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
6.3Lowest
8.9
11.8Highest
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.