Compare towns
Hebron vs Brookfield vs Durham vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hebron has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
Durham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Columbia has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
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 | Hebron | Brookfield | Durham | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,157 |
17,706Highest |
7,208 |
5,300Lowest |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 10% above CT |
44.3±1.8Lowest 8% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
| Columbia and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±3.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.7%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.7% CT: 42.5% |
58.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Hebron and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,500±$23k 49% above CT |
$148,360±$11k 55% above CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$127,000±$30kLowest 33% above CT |
| Durham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,800±$15k 5% above CT |
$479,700±$24kHighest 31% above CT |
$424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
$361,500±$16kLowest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$241 10% above CT |
$1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
$1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Brookfield and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,263Highest 24% above CT |
$7,594 14% above CT |
$7,998 20% above CT |
$5,228Lowest 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±28.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Hebron and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 19 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1984 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 27.2%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±3Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6 CT: 16% |
| Hebron 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 | #28 of 149 in CT | #67 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Hebron School District · Regional School District 08 | Brookfield School District | Regional School District 13 | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | RHAM High School | Brookfield High School | Coginchaug Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3 |
12.7Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.