Compare towns
Columbia vs Sharon 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 highest household income ($127k).
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($591k median).
Middlefield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Sharon | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Highest |
2,723Lowest |
4,243 |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3Lowest 25% above CT |
59.5±6Highest 45% above CT |
51.6±1.9 26% above CT |
| Sharon 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% |
7.2%±3.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Highest 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%±5.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
37.9%±9.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Sharon and Middlefield 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% |
56.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest 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 |
$100,518±$15k 5% above CT |
$99,837±$20kLowest 4% above CT |
| Columbia and Sharon 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 |
$590,700±$156kHighest 61% above CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,750±$1k 18% above CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228 21% below CT |
$4,484Lowest 33% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±16.2 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Sharon 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% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% CT: 66.5% |
72.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
18.7%±6.8 CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Sharon 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 |
| School district | Columbia School District | Sharon School District | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None 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.