Compare towns
Columbia vs Suffield vs Middlefield vs Beacon Falls
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%).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Middlefield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Beacon Falls has the most kids (18% 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 | Suffield | Middlefield | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
15,702Highest |
4,243Lowest |
6,147 |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
44.5±1.7Lowest 8% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
48.4±3.8 18% 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% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Beacon Falls and Suffield 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% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4 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% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Beacon Falls 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 |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$99,837±$20kLowest 4% above CT |
$101,516±$42k 6% 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±$16k about the CT average |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$350,300±$34kLowest 5% below 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 |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,921±$286 29% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228Lowest 21% below CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$6,534 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 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% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
85.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 17 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4 CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Beacon Falls 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | Suffield School District | Regional School District 13 | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | None in town | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
| 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.