Compare towns
Salem vs Middlefield vs Montville
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 people working from home (18%).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Montville has the most affordable homes ($286k median).
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 | Montville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,282 |
4,243Lowest |
17,950Highest |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
42.8±4.1 4% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.2%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Montville 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% |
17%±2.1Lowest 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% CT: 42.5% |
25.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Montville and Salem 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±$20k 4% above CT |
$96,454±$11kLowest about the CT average |
| 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±$27k about the CT average |
$285,600±$13kLowest 22% below CT |
| 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±$150 3% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,187±$99Lowest 20% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,668 about the CT average |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$4,565Lowest 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
41.4%±8.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Montville 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% |
7.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
81.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6Highest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
5.5%±2.2Lowest 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 | #95 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Salem School District | Regional School District 13 | Montville School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Montville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.2 |
| 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.