Compare towns
Wethersfield vs Durham vs Colchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wethersfield has the most affordable homes ($325k median).
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
Colchester has the most renters (23.5% rent).
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 | Wethersfield | Durham | Colchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,250Highest |
7,208Lowest |
15,648 |
| Median age | 43.4±1.5Lowest 6% above CT |
45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
43.5±3.8 6% above CT |
| Durham and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.7%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Wethersfield and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.3%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Wethersfield and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
49.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.6%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Wethersfield and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $126,806±$12k 32% above CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$122,390±$14kLowest 28% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $324,600±$11kLowest 12% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$366,800±$16k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,370±$150 8% below CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,474±$153Highest about the CT average |
| Colchester and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,296 10% above CT |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$6,212Lowest 6% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±11.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
44.4%±10.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Wethersfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Highest CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 18%±2.6Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.8 CT: 16% |
| Durham and Colchester 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 | #92 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT | #64 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Capitol Region Education Council · Wethersfield School District | Regional School District 13 | Colchester School District |
| High school in town | Wethersfield High School | Coginchaug Regional High School | Bacon Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.8Highest |
8.9Lowest |
9.8 |
| 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.