Compare towns
Columbia vs Griswold 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%).
Griswold has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
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 | Griswold | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
11,530Highest |
4,243Lowest |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
48.1±3.9Lowest 17% 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% |
18.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Griswold and Middlefield 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% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest 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% CT: 42.5% |
19.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest 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±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$78,719±$11kLowest 18% below CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
| Columbia and Middlefield 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 |
$275,900±$42kLowest 25% below CT |
$376,000±$27kHighest about the CT average |
| Middlefield and Columbia 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 |
$1,177±$65 21% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228 21% below CT |
$4,628Lowest 30% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.5%±15.5 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Griswold 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% |
7.6% CT: 10% |
8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% CT: 66.5% |
73.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
31 min 17% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.6Lowest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #114 of 149 in CT | #118 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | Griswold School District | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | Griswold High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
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| 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.