Compare towns
Columbia vs Coventry vs Durham 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 people working from home (21.6%).
Coventry has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
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 | Columbia | Coventry | Durham | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
12,326Highest |
7,208 |
4,243Lowest |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
45.4±3.8Lowest 10% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% 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 | 13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Coventry and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
20.2%±3.3 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest 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+ | 34.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
45% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±2 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Columbia 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 |
$108,213±$5k 13% above CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$99,837±$20kLowest 4% above CT |
| Durham 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±$16k about the CT average |
$330,000±$23kLowest 10% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
| Durham 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 |
$1,232±$330 17% below CT |
$1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228Lowest 21% below CT |
$5,284 20% below CT |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$6,853 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
62.7%±23.8 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% CT: 10% |
5.1% CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.7% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1966 1 yr older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±4.6 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Durham 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 | #41 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | Coventry School District | Regional School District 13 | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | Coventry High School | Coginchaug Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.