Compare towns
Columbia vs Killingly vs Middlefield vs Plainfield
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%).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Middlefield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Killingly | Middlefield | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
17,867Highest |
4,243Lowest |
15,141 |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below 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% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly 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% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest 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% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 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 |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below 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 |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$376,000±$27kHighest about the CT average |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| 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 |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228 21% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Killingly 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% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #114 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 13 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.