Compare towns
Columbia vs Hampton vs Plainfield 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%).
Hampton has the most homeowners (90%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Hampton | Plainfield | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
1,647Lowest |
15,141Highest |
4,243 |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
51.5±5.3 25% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% 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%±5.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Hampton and Plainfield 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2 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% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Plainfield 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 |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
| Columbia and Hampton 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±$27k 19% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% 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 |
$1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228 21% below CT |
$4,364 34% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Hampton 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%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1980 13 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Hampton 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | Hampton School District | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
— |
| 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.