Compare towns
Columbia vs Middlefield vs Thompson
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).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
4,243Lowest |
9,337Highest |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3Lowest 25% above CT |
51.6±1.9 26% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Thompson and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Middlefield and Columbia 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% |
24.4%±4.3Lowest 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% |
41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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±$20k 4% above CT |
$93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average |
| 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 |
$376,000±$27kHighest about the CT average |
$291,900±$24kLowest 20% 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 |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,012±$344 32% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228 21% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Thompson 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% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | Regional School District 13 | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.9 |
| 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.