Compare towns
Middlefield vs Willimantic vs Durham vs Meriden
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).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Meriden has the most kids (21.9% 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 | Willimantic | Durham | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,243Lowest |
18,096 |
7,208 |
60,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Willimantic 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% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Durham 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% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$71,253±$4k 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$241,200±$7k 34% below CT |
| Durham 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 |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,294±$72 13% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853 3% above CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$5,129 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9 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% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1960 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6 CT: 16% |
| Durham and Middlefield 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 | — | #88 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | — | Regional School District 13 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Coginchaug Regional High School | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9Lowest |
16.2Highest |
| 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.