What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has the most kids (23.2% under 18).

Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Salem	Middlefield
People
Population	4,282Highest	4,243Lowest
Median age	40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average	51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT
Kids under 18	23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2%	13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	19.7%±4.7Lowest CT: 18.5%	25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5%
	Middlefield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.6%Highest CT: 42.5%	41.5%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1%	5.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Salem and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT	$99,837±$20kLowest 4% above CT
	Salem and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT	$376,000±$27kLowest about the CT average
	Salem and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,440±$150Lowest 3% below CT	$3,501Highest 135% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,668Lowest about the CT average	$6,853Highest 3% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6%	85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6%
	Middlefield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest CT: 10%	8.1%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Highest CT: 66.5%	86.5%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT	1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 19% above CT	25 minLowest 6% below CT
Work from home	18%±9.6Highest CT: 16%	10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16%
	Salem 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	#11 of 149 in CT	#65 of 149 in CT
School district	Salem School District	Regional School District 13
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.