Compare towns
Columbia vs Windham 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 highest household income ($127k).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Middlefield has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
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 | Windham | Middlefield | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
23,961Highest |
4,243Lowest |
6,147 |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below 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% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Windham and Beacon Falls 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% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest 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% CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
| Columbia and Beacon Falls 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 |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$376,000±$27kHighest about the CT average |
$350,300±$34k 5% 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 |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,921±$286 29% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228 21% below CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$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% |
57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
85.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 17 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 13 | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
— | 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.