Compare towns
Columbia vs Middlefield vs Suffield
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%).
Middlefield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Suffield has the most kids (16.2% under 18).
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 | Middlefield | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
4,243Lowest |
15,702Highest |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
44.5±1.7Lowest 8% 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% |
13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Suffield 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% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest 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% |
41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$99,837±$20kLowest 4% above CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
| Columbia and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$16kLowest about the CT average |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
| Suffield 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 |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228Lowest 21% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% CT: 10% |
8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | Regional School District 13 | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.9 |
| 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.