Compare towns
Middlefield vs Windham vs Brooklyn vs Durham
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).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Brooklyn has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Windham | Brooklyn | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,243Lowest |
23,961Highest |
8,517 |
7,208 |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Brooklyn and Windham 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% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Brooklyn 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% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above 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 |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,125±$98 24% below CT |
$1,154±$448 22% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853 3% above CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$4,538Lowest 32% below CT |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.7% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Brooklyn School District | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | Coginchaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
| 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.