Compare towns
Columbia vs Upton vs Middlefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Columbia has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Upton | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
8,189Highest |
4,243Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3 32% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
51.6±1.9Highest 33% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$30k 57% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$99,837±$20kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Upton 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±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$376,000±$27k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $966±$304 32% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$3,501Highest 148% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228Lowest 68% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,853 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±52.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middlefield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Columbia 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #65 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.