Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Mendon vs Middlefield vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
Middlefield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Bethlehem | Mendon | Middlefield | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
6,325Highest |
4,243 |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 32% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
51.6±1.9Highest 33% above U.S. |
51.3±10.3 32% above U.S. |
| Middlefield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mendon and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,929±$16k 35% above U.S. |
$132,256±$33kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$99,837±$20kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$127,000±$30k 57% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36k 24% above U.S. |
$616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$376,000±$27k 13% above U.S. |
$361,500±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 20% below U.S. |
$1,840±$196 30% above U.S. |
$3,501Highest 148% above U.S. |
$966±$304Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 90% above U.S. |
$7,213Highest 131% above U.S. |
$6,853 120% above U.S. |
$5,228Lowest 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±52.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middlefield and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Columbia and Mendon 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | #210 of 282 in MA | #65 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Mendon-Upton | Regional School District 13 | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
U.S. 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.