Compare towns
Salem vs Middlefield vs Marlborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most expensive homes ($404k median).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Marlborough has the most people working from home (33.2%).
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 | Salem | Middlefield | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,282 |
4,243Lowest |
6,130Highest |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
41.8±4.7 about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±5.1 CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.6%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Marlborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.3%±3.5Lowest 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% |
45.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest 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±$8k 29% above CT |
$99,837±$20kLowest 4% above CT |
$142,105±$35kHighest 48% above CT |
| Marlborough and Salem 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 |
$379,100±$33k 3% above CT |
| Salem and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,440±$150 3% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,333±$438Lowest 10% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,668Lowest about the CT average |
$6,853 3% above CT |
$7,397Highest 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
59.2%±36 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Marlborough 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% CT: 10% |
9.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
33.2%±8.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Marlborough and Salem 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 | #52 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Salem School District | Regional School District 13 | Marlborough School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.