Census-designated place · Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut

Durham, Connecticut

Durham is a census-designated place in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut, part of the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metro area. It has 3,347 residents. Durham, Connecticut has a quality-of-life score of 92 out of 100 (very high), ranking #1,278 of 15,651 US cities and towns. Within Connecticut it ranks #23 of 160 cities and towns. It ranks best on students per teacher (low), poor or fair health (low) and income inequality (Gini index) (low). It ranks worst on effective property tax rate (high), high ozone days (high) and child care cost burden (high).

92Very high

Quality-of-life score: #1,278 of 15,651 cities and towns
Connecticut: #23 of 160 in CT
Population: 3,347 (2020-2024)
Land area: 8 mi²
Density: 405.8 /mi²
FIPS code: 0920740

Percentile-based score (100 is the best in the country) from 73 of 80 indicators, with the default “Explorer” weights.

Open in the map

Scores by category

Each category averages its indicators' percentile scores among US cities and towns.

Safety92#1,193/15,637
Economy75#3,884/15,631
Housing21#11,871/14,977
Health90#1,542/15,609
Healthcare86#2,222/15,650
Environment37#9,703/15,453
Education92#1,220/15,649
Infrastructure92#1,257/15,650
Community95#789/15,651
Leisure & amenities93#1,138/15,651

Strengths · Weaknesses

Indicators where Durham, Connecticut ranks highest and lowest among US cities and towns (score = percentile, 100 = best). Values marked “Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region value” are the county’s: the source publishes no figure for this city or town, and the county holding most of its residents stands in.

Strengths

Students per teacher · low10.6×
96/100Connecticut 11.9×United States 15.2×2024National Center for Education StatisticsLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region value
Poor or fair health · low11.1%
95/100Connecticut 15.9%United States 19.9%2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteModel-based estimate
Income inequality (Gini index) · low0.325
95/100Connecticut 0.499United States 0.4832020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B19083
Voter turnout · high78.6%
94/100Connecticut 68.5%United States 65.2%2024U.S. Election Assistance CommissionLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region value
Median household income · high$152,396
93/100Connecticut $95,670United States $81,6042020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B19013
Flu vaccinations · high54.8%
92/100Connecticut 52.0%United States 44.0%2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteEstimated from related areas or data (see the source notes)Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region value

Weaknesses

Effective property tax rate · high2.00%
7/100Connecticut 1.54%United States 0.94%2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B25090
High ozone days · high8 days
11/100Connecticut 10 daysUnited States 7 days2022Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyEstimated from related areas or data (see the source notes)Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region value
Child care cost burden · high38.2%
13/100Connecticut 39.8%United States 27.9%2023 & 2024University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteEstimated from related areas or data (see the source notes)Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region value
Days with unhealthy air · high2.8%
14/100Connecticut 3.5%2025U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyEstimated from related areas or data (see the source notes)Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region value
Rent-burdened households · high57.7%
20/100Connecticut 52.6%United States 51.1%2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B25070
Rent as share of income · high36.3%
20/100Connecticut 31.4%United States 30.6%2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B25071

Trends

The largest changes over about five years, next to the country's over the same periods.

PopulationRising
2,752 (2015-2019) → 3,347 (2020-2024)
+22%5 yearsCensus table B01003US 328,329,953 → 340,003,797
Rent as share of incomeImproving
51.0% (2015-2019) → 36.3% (2020-2024)
−15 pts5 yearsCensus table B25071US 29.8% → 30.6%
Median household incomeImproving
$108,333 (2015-2019) → $152,396 (2020-2024)
+41%5 yearsCensus table B19013US $65,712 → $81,604
Broadband subscriptionsImproving
86.8% (2015-2019) → 93.8% (2020-2024)
+7 pts5 yearsCensus table B28002US 82.7% → 91.0%
Rent-burdened householdsWorsening
50.8% (2015-2019) → 57.7% (2020-2024)
+6.9 pts5 yearsCensus table B25070US 49.6% → 51.1%
Child poverty rateWorsening
0.0% (2015-2019) → 5.6% (2020-2024)
+5.6 pts5 yearsCensus table B17001US 16.8% → 15.5%

What changed in five years

How each measure moved between two periods about five years apart, read against whether more or less is better, the published margin of error and the same change in other places.

Over about five years, Durham, Connecticut improved on 2 of 10 measures with a comparison and declined on 0. 8 moved within the margin of error and 0 barely changed.

Earlier (2015-2019)
Latest (2020-2024)
Lower standingHigher standing

Position is the place's standing among cities and towns: further right is better, whichever way the measure counts.

Improved2

Rent / income−15 points51.0% → 36.3%
Household income+41%$108,333 → $152,396

Declined0

No measure declined by more than its margin of error.

All 10 measures

Change of every measure of Durham, Connecticut between two periods about five years apart
Measure	Before	After	Change	Reading	Favourable vs peers
Average commute time	30.5 min2015-2019	23.8 min2020-2024	−6.7 min	Within the margin of error	95%
Bachelor's degree or higher	38.9%2015-2019	42.4%2020-2024	+3.5 points	Within the margin of error	56%
Broadband subscriptions	86.8%2015-2019	93.8%2020-2024	+7 points	Within the margin of error	43%
Effective property tax rate	2.35%2015-2019	2.00%2020-2024	−0.3 points	Within the margin of error	79%
High school diploma or higher	94.3%2015-2019	97.3%2020-2024	+3 points	Within the margin of error	68%
Home price to income ratio	2.5×2015-2019	2.6×2020-2024	+0.1×	Within the margin of error	75%
Income inequality (Gini index)	0.3522015-2019	0.3252020-2024	−0.028	Within the margin of error	73%
Median household income	$108,3332015-2019	$152,3962020-2024	+41%	Improved	75%
Rent as share of income	51.0%2015-2019	36.3%2020-2024	−15 points	Improved	97%
Rent-burdened households	50.8%2015-2019	57.7%2020-2024	+6.9 points	Within the margin of error	32%

“Against peers” compares the change with the same change in the 14640 cities and towns that have the same two periods. It describes how common a change is, not why it happened.

Sources: American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Values are the latest and the one five years earlier of the same publisher dataset; datasets that changed publisher in between are never compared.

Survey estimates (American Community Survey) compare the two most recent 5-year windows that do not share years, so the margin of error of the difference holds. The 2015-2019 window predates the pandemic and 2020-2024 includes it.
A change counts only when it is larger than 1.645 times the square root of the two standard errors squared, summed (a 90% margin). Measures published without a margin must change by at least 5% to count.
“Against peers” compares the change with the same change in the 15651 cities and towns that have the same two periods. It describes how common a change is, not why it happened.
Standing is a percentile among the same places: 0 is the lowest value on the measure (or the worst when lower is better), 100 the best.

Cities and towns like Durham, Connecticut five years ago that improved

The places whose measures looked most like those of Durham, Connecticut in the earlier period, ranked by how many measures improved beyond the margin of error, minus how many declined. A comparison of published data, not a forecast and not advice.

For comparison, Durham, Connecticut itself moved +6.7 points in standing on average over the same 10 measures (standings of all places average about zero).

How the ranking works

Similarity is the root-mean-square difference of standings in the earlier period over the measures most places have. Places are ranked by measures that improved beyond the margin of error minus those that declined (a count that estimation noise in small places cannot inflate), then by the mean change of standing over the measures a place has in both periods. Only places with more improvements than declines and a rise in standing are listed. Standings are relative, so a place can improve in absolute terms and still lose standing.

Who lives here

Age, race and education of residents, from the American Community Survey. Shares are of all residents (age), residents of every origin (race) or adults 25 and over (education).

Age and sex

3,347 residents (±543)

Men
Women

80 and over†
70–79†
60–69†
50–59†
40–49†
30–39†
20–29†
10–19†
Under 10†

Share of all residents, each sex

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: Under 10 women (−5.3 points).

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B01001View table on data.census.gov

Race and Hispanic origin

3,347 residents (±543)

Durham, Connecticut
Connecticut share

White88%2,936
Black0.0%0
Hispanic or Latino6.8%†226

Education

2,695 residents (±411)

Durham, Connecticut
Connecticut share

No high school diploma2.7%†73
High school or GED32%†875
Some college14%

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Income

How household income is spread, not just the middle: each bar is the share of households in that income range.

Household income

1,323 households (±213)

Durham, Connecticut
Connecticut share

Under $25k3.0%†40
$25k–50k9.6%†127
$50k–75k9.7%†128
$75k–100k7.1%†94
$100k–150k20%†261
$150k–200k25%†326
$200k or more26%†347

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: $100k–150k (−17.5 points).

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B19001View table on data.census.gov

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Homes

Who owns and who rents, what homes cost, and what the housing stock looks like.

Owners and renters

1,323 households (±213)

Durham, Connecticut
Connecticut share

Own90%1,191
Rent10.0%†132

No change since 2015–2019 is larger than the margin of error.

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B25003View table on data.census.gov

Rent paid

104 households (±74)

Durham, Connecticut
Connecticut share

Under $75029%†30
$750–1,0000.0%0
$1,000–1,50014%†15

Home values

1,191 homes (±220)

Durham, Connecticut
Connecticut share

Under $150k1.3%†15
$150k–250k11%†132
$250k–400k37%†442

Age of homes

1,323 homes (±213)

Durham, Connecticut
Connecticut share

2010 or later0.0%0
2000–20095.4%†71
1980–199928%†372

Size of homes

1,323 homes (±213)

Durham, Connecticut
Connecticut share

Studio0.0%0
1 bedroom3.4%†45
2 bedrooms9.3%†123

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Getting to work

How workers travel to their job and how long it takes them.

How people get to work

2,029 workers (±367)

Durham, Connecticut
Connecticut share

Drive alone76%1,534
Carpool3.0%†60
Public transit1.4%†28
Walk0.0%0
Bike0.0%0
Work from home20%†405
Other0.1%†2

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: Work from home (+10.6 points).

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B08301View table on data.census.gov

Time to get to work

1,624 workers (±348)

Durham, Connecticut
Connecticut share

Under 15 min22%†361
15–29 min53%†866
30–44 min16%†259

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Jobs and pay

What the largest occupations here pay, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes pay by metro area, not by county or city. The metro area page lists its largest occupations and lets you look up any job.

Pay in the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT

Local businesses

Employer businesses and sole proprietors by industry, per resident and against the state and the nation. Counts of businesses next to counts of people, not a measure of demand.

The Census Bureau publishes business counts by county, not by city, so these are the figures of Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, the county holding most of Durham's residents.

Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region has 4,489 employer establishments, 254 for every 10,000 residents (1.02× the US rate of 248; 1.04× Connecticut's), with 65,436 paid employees at an average annual pay of $63,279. The Census Bureau also counts 15,958 nonemployer businesses, mostly sole proprietors.

Establishments: 4,489; 15,958 nonemployers
Per 10,000 residents: 254; US 248 · Connecticut 245
Paid employees: 65,436
Average annual pay: $63,279; US $68,342

Employer establishments, employees, average pay and nonemployers of Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region by industry, with the density per resident against the nation

Restaurants and other eating places	394	22.3	1.22×About typical	5,015	$27,025	64
Specialty trade contractors	339	19.2	1.24×About typical	2,584	$83,832	1,236
Ambulatory health care services	336	19	0.91×About typical	4,828	$84,114	945
Full-service restaurants	203	11.5	1.50×More than typical	2,979	$29,580	21
Services to buildings and dwellings	181	10.3	1.52×More than typical	1,543	$41,338	672
Building equipment contractors	137	7.8	1.29×More than typical	986	$79,769	253
Landscaping services	137	7.8	2.22×More than typical	555	$59,953	329
Limited-service restaurants	133	7.5	0.94×About typical	1,357	$24,837	31
Construction of buildings	123	7	0.92×About typical	600	$77,150	435
Lessors of real estate	113	6.4	0.52×Fewer than typical	351	$57,162	1,998
Personal care services	106	6	1.26×More than typical	459	$29,207	460
Offices of physicians	101	5.7	0.88×About typical	1,546	$122,300	138

Rank places for an industry Open Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region

County Business Patterns (2023); Nonemployer Statistics (2024)

Per-resident figures divide by the population estimate of 2023: 176,419 residents here, 336,755,052 in the United States. County Business Patterns counts establishments in 2023; the Nonemployer Statistics count businesses in 2024.
“More than typical” is a density at least 1.25 times the nation's per resident, “fewer” at most 0.8 times, with at least 10 establishments. It compares counts of businesses with counts of people: it says nothing about demand, incomes, size, quality or profit, and visitors and commuters are not residents.
The Census Bureau adds noise to employment and payroll to protect confidentiality, and withholds some figures: an industry with few establishments can show employees or pay as unavailable.
Industries overlap: a narrower industry (full-service restaurants) is part of a broader one (restaurants), so the rows do not add up.
Industries follow the North American Industry Classification System; the two surveys use different editions (NAICS 2017 and 2022), which this page matches industry by industry.

Federal contracts performed here

In FY2026, an estimated $1.5M of federal contract obligations were for work performed in Durham, Connecticut: $452 per resident (US $1,994).

Obligations: $1.5M; +3,531% vs FY2025
Per resident: $452; US $1,994
Sole-source: 1.0%; US 30%
Single offer: 3.9%; US 8.8%

A signal is a reason to look closer, not evidence of wrongdoing: most sole-source awards are lawful and justified.

Top buying agencies

Department of the Army$1M66%
Defense Logistics Agency$471.1K31%
Department of the Navy$25.5K1.7%
Environmental Protection Agency$8,7160.6%
Federal Acquisition Service$4,4050.3%

Top recipients

CHARTER CONTRACTING COMPANY, LLC$1M66%
KENNETH INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, INC.$364.1K24%
BIGHORN SOLUTIONS LLC$81.5K5.4%
THE CLAREMONT SALES CORP$43.5K2.9%
CHAS. D. WEST & CO$12K0.8%

Spending by fiscal year

33KFY2017
0FY2018
8.5MFY2019
31.2KFY2020
9.6KFY2021
23.8KFY2022
39.4KFY2023
4.8MFY2024

Top industries (NAICS)

Remediation and other waste management services · 5629$1M67%
Ship and boat building · 3366$177.2K12%
Other textile product mills · 3149$102.4K6.8%
Other miscellaneous manufacturing · 3399$80.6K5.3%
Other fabricated metal product manufacturing · 3329$70.2K4.6%
Textile and fabric finishing and fabric coating mills · 3133$63.9K

Source: Federal contract transactions (Federal Procurement Data System) (U.S. Department of the Treasury, USAspending.gov), data current to Oct 3, 2026, loaded Oct 3, 2026.

How this is estimated

Agencies report each contract action's place of performance as a county and a ZIP code. A ZIP code's money is split among the cities it covers by the share of its land inside each (Census 2020 ZIP code tabulation areas); the part outside city limits stays with the county.

The place of performance is what the contracting agency reports, often the contractor's office rather than where the work happens.
Shares are of land, not of people or businesses: a ZIP code that is mostly rural land but has its offices in town gives the town less than it should.
ZIP codes that are not mapped areas (post office boxes, the unique ZIP codes of large federal sites and companies) stay with their county, unless one city covers nearly all of it.
Counts of actions and awards include those only partly in Durham, Connecticut, so they do not add up across cities.

Durham, Connecticut's figures are part of those of Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, CT ($84.7M in FY2026), never added to them: 1.8% of that total.

Grants and other federal assistance are counted by county here, not split among cities: Durham is mostly in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region.

See federal money in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region

Representation in Congress

Members serving today, with their record in the current Congress (party-unity votes cast with their caucus, roll calls missed). Not a grade.

Durham, Connecticut is split between congressional districts: each representative is shown with the share of its residents in their district (current boundaries).

House

Senate

Explore Congress The 2026 races

County

A city can lie in several counties. Some indicators are published for counties only: the page marks them.

Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region93100% of residents

Metro area

The metro or micro area the city belongs to.

Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT90

Other cities and towns in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region

Largest first.

Similar cities and towns

Closest indicator profiles across the country (no model: score distances).

Data and sources

Latest published value of each indicator; periods differ by source. Values flagged by their publisher are marked.

PLACES: Local Data for Better HealthCenters for Disease Control and Prevention · release 2025
Local Area Unemployment StatisticsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · release 2025
American Community Survey 5-Year EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2017-2024
Population Estimates ProgramU.S. Census Bureau · release 2025
Small Area Health Insurance EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2024
Small Area Income and Poverty EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2024
County Health Rankings & RoadmapsUniversity of Wisconsin Population Health Institute · release 2022-2025+2026-03-supplement

JSON · /api/v1/places/0920740

Scores by category

Strengths · Weaknesses

Strengths

Weaknesses

Trends