Compare towns
Wallingford vs Middlefield vs Northford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wallingford has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Northford has the most expensive homes ($404k 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 | Wallingford | Middlefield | Northford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,362Highest |
4,243Lowest |
6,186 |
| Median age | 42.6±1.8Lowest 4% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
48.1±5.6 17% above CT |
| Middlefield and Northford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.2%±5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Northford and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.6%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Northford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.4% CT: 42.5% |
41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
39.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.3%±3.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Northford and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,773±$5k 9% above CT |
$99,837±$20kLowest 4% above CT |
$105,174±$24kHighest 10% above CT |
| Northford and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,100±$8kLowest 4% below CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$403,800±$31kHighest 10% above CT |
| Northford and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,374±$84Lowest 8% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,408±$326 5% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,963Lowest 10% below CT |
$6,853 3% above CT |
$7,302Highest 10% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±8.9 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
16.6%±21.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% CT: 10% |
8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
4.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
90.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
26 minHighest 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±2Highest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
12.3%±6.5 CT: 16% |
| Wallingford and Northford 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 | #108 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Wallingford School District | Regional School District 13 | — |
| High school in town | Lyman Hall High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5 |
— | — |
| 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.