Compare towns
Columbia vs Cornwall vs Sharon vs Middlefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Columbia has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Sharon has the most renters (27.5% rent).
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 | Columbia | Cornwall | Sharon | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300Highest |
1,425Lowest |
2,723 |
4,243 |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3Lowest 25% above CT |
53.9±5.1 31% above CT |
59.5±6Highest 45% above CT |
51.6±1.9 26% above CT |
| Sharon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
14.9%±2.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
7.2%±3.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Cornwall and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
29.4%±2.5 CT: 18.5% |
37.9%±9.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Sharon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
56.8% CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±3 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
$128,864±$34kHighest 35% above CT |
$100,518±$15k 5% above CT |
$99,837±$20kLowest 4% above CT |
| Cornwall and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$16kLowest about the CT average |
$554,600±$106k 51% above CT |
$590,700±$156kHighest 61% above CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
| Sharon and Cornwall 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 |
$1,047±$121 30% below CT |
$1,750±$1k 18% above CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228 21% below CT |
$5,792 13% below CT |
$4,484Lowest 33% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
46.8%±31.9 CT: 52.6% |
64%±16.2 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.2% CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% CT: 66.5% |
87.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
72.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6 CT: 16% |
32.4%±13.6Highest CT: 16% |
18.7%±6.8 CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
| Cornwall and Columbia 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 | #114 of 149 in CT | — | — | #65 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | Cornwall School District | Sharon School District | Regional School District 13 |
| 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 |
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.