Compare towns

Middlefield vs Willimantic vs Beacon Falls 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 most expensive homes ($376k median).
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).

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.

MeasureMiddlefieldWillimanticBeacon FallsMiddletown
People
Population
4,243Lowest
18,096
6,147
47,958Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.3%Highest
CT: +0.9%
—
+0.1%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
Median age
51.6±1.9Highest
26% above CT
31.3±2.7Lowest
24% below CT
48.4±3.8
18% above CT
38.1±1.5
7% below 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%
20.6%±2.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
18%±4.8
CT: 20.2%
14.3%±1.3
CT: 20.2%
Willimantic and Beacon Falls 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%
11%±1.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
23.5%±4.4
CT: 18.5%
16.5%±1.3
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%
24.2%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
44.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
40.2%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.4
CT: 7.1%
19.1%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.3%±3.2Lowest
CT: 7.1%
15.5%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$99,837±$20k
4% above CT
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
$101,516±$42kHighest
6% above CT
$79,438±$6k
17% below 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±$27kHighest
about the CT average
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
$350,300±$34k
5% below CT
$295,300±$11k
20% below CT
Middlefield and Beacon Falls 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
$1,063±$68Lowest
29% below CT
$1,921±$286
29% above CT
$1,446±$45
about the CT average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,853Highest
3% above CT
$4,678Lowest
30% below CT
$6,534
about the CT average
$6,412
3% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
85.4%±52.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
55.9%±8.1
CT: 52.6%
50.7%±30.4
CT: 52.6%
47.7%±5.3Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Middlefield and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.1%
CT: 10%
23.4%Highest
CT: 10%
2.1%Lowest
CT: 10%
12%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%Highest
CT: 66.5%
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
85.5%
CT: 66.5%
52.9%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
6 yrs older than CT
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
1985Highest
18 yrs newer than CT
1972
5 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below CT
23 minLowest
12% below CT
33 minHighest
23% above CT
23 min
12% below CT
Work from home
10.9%±4.1
CT: 16%
6.2%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
20.3%±7.4Highest
CT: 16%
14.1%±1.8
CT: 16%
Beacon Falls and Middletown 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 — #77 of 149 in CT #121 of 149 in CT
School district Regional School District 13 — Regional School District 16 Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
High school in town None in town — Woodland Regional High School Middletown High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.2Lowest
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.