Compare towns
Columbia vs Monroe vs Willimantic 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%).
Monroe has the most expensive homes ($503k median).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 | Monroe | Willimantic | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
18,949Highest |
18,096 |
4,243Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% 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% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Monroe and Willimantic 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% |
15.6%±2 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest 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% |
57.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
$157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
| Monroe and Columbia 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 |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$994±$860 33% below CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228 21% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$6,853 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest 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% CT: 10% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Monroe 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 | #48 of 149 in CT | — | #65 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | Monroe School District | — | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | Masuk High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.