Compare towns
Andover vs Windham vs Middlefield vs Columbia
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%).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Windham | Middlefield | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,152Lowest |
23,961Highest |
4,243 |
5,300 |
| Median age | 51.2±5.4 25% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
51.3±10.3 25% 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% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Windham 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% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4 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% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.1 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,632±$20kHighest 41% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$127,000±$30k 33% 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 |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$361,500±$16k 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 |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the CT average |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.8%±38.4 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest 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% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below CT |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.4 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Andover School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 13 | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.