The Town FilesDurham, Connecticut
Town · population 7,152 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $424,800
- Household income
- $158,857
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 84°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 45.5
Durham is a town of 7,152 people, Connecticut. The median home is worth $424,800, above the typical Connecticut town ($376,000). It ranks better for families than 97% of Connecticut towns, quieter than 93% of Connecticut towns, better for retirees than 74% of Connecticut towns.
- #3 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Connecticut
- #3 in The 21 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Connecticut
- #9 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Connecticut
- #10 in The 15 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in Connecticut
- #12 in 25 Small Towns in Connecticut With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #13 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Connecticut
How Durham ranks
Percentile among Connecticut towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Connecticut towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Durham is worth $424,800, above the typical Connecticut town ($376,000). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $158,857, which is more affordable than 92% of Connecticut towns. Median rent is $1,154 a month. 93.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Durham | Typical Connecticut town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $424,800 | $376,000 |
| Median rent | $1,154 | $1,462 |
| Median household income | $158,857 | $109,167 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.6× |
| Homeownership | 93.2% | 80.3% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Durham
| People | Durham | Typical Connecticut town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.5 | 45.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.4% | 20.6% |
| Under 18 | 16.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.9% | 45.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.4% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 20.5% | 16.8% |
| Average commute | 23.1 min | 27.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.7% | 93.8% |
Weather in Durham
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 18.7°F. About 44.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 129 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Durham since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Connecticut town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 12, 1950 about 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 21, 1972.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 1, 2012.
Public schools in Durham
3 public schools with 899 students, about 10.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coginchaug Regional High School | 9-12 | 359 | 9.4 |
| Frank Ward Strong School | 6-8 | 310 | 10.7 |
| Frederick Brewster School | PK-2 | 230 | 10.5 |
Towns near Durham
- Durham, CT0.0 mi · 3,771 people · home $401,700
- Middlefield, CT3.6 mi · 4,217 people · home $376,000
- Middletown, CT5.7 mi · 47,717 people · home $295,300
- Wallingford, CT6.3 mi · 44,396 people · home $353,100
- Wallingford Center, CT7.1 mi · 18,278 people · home $319,200
- Haddam, CT7.1 mi · 8,452 people · home $379,700
- Northford, CT7.2 mi · 6,082 people · home $403,800
- Meriden, CT7.4 mi · 60,850 people · home $241,200
Durham questions
Is Durham, Connecticut a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Durham scores better for retirees than 74% of Connecticut towns and quieter than 93%. 17.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.5).
How much does a house cost in Durham?
The median owner-occupied home in Durham is valued at $424,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $158,857, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $1,154 a month.
What is the weather like in Durham?
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 18.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.9 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Durham get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Durham since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 12, 1950. The typical Connecticut town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)