Compare towns
Columbia vs Middlefield vs Willimantic
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 most expensive homes ($376k median).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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 | Willimantic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
4,243Lowest |
18,096Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% 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% |
13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest 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% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% 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 |
$376,000±$27kHighest about the CT average |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% 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 |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228 21% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Willimantic 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% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #114 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Columbia School District | Regional School District 13 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.