Compare towns
Columbia vs Hampton vs Middlefield vs Hebron
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 renters (16.7% rent).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Middlefield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Hebron has the most people working from home (27.2%).
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 | Hampton | Middlefield | Hebron |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
1,647Lowest |
4,243 |
9,157Highest |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
51.5±5.3 25% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 10% above CT |
| Middlefield and Hampton 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% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
20.8%±3.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Hebron and Hampton 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2 CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton and Middlefield 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% |
29.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
52.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Hebron and Middlefield 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 |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$99,837±$20kLowest 4% above CT |
$142,500±$23kHighest 49% above CT |
| Hebron 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 |
$295,800±$27kLowest 19% below CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$385,800±$15kHighest 5% above CT |
| Hebron 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 |
$1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,635±$241 10% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228 21% below CT |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$6,853 3% above CT |
$8,263Highest 24% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
61.5%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
4.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
88.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 17 yrs newer than CT |
1980 13 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1986Highest 19 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6 CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
27.2%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Hebron 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 | #28 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | Hampton School District | Regional School District 13 | Hebron School District · Regional School District 08 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | RHAM High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.3 |
| 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.