Compare towns
Bethany vs Columbia vs Middlefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethany has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Middlefield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Bethany | Columbia | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288 |
5,300Highest |
4,243Lowest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
51.3±10.3 25% above 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 | 20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4 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+ | 58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
$99,837±$20kLowest 4% above CT |
| Bethany and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$361,500±$16kLowest about the CT average |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
| Bethany and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$5,228Lowest 21% below CT |
$6,853 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Bethany 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 | #30 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | 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 |
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.