Compare towns
Andover vs Columbia vs Willimantic vs Middlefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most homeowners (93.1%).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 | Andover | Columbia | Willimantic | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,152Lowest |
5,300 |
18,096Highest |
4,243 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 51.2±5.4 25% above CT |
51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
| Middlefield and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±5.1 CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,632±$20kHighest 41% above CT |
$127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
| Andover and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,500±$36kHighest about the CT average |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
| Andover and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$745 22% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the CT average |
$5,228 21% below CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.8%±38.4 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.4 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Andover 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 | #43 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT | — | #65 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Andover School District | Columbia School District | — | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.