Compare towns
Middlefield vs Chaplin vs Middletown vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlefield has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Columbia has the highest household income ($127k).
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 | Middlefield | Chaplin | Middletown | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,243 |
2,070Lowest |
47,958Highest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT |
51.3±10.3 25% 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 | 13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Chaplin and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4 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+ | 41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.2% CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Middletown and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
| Columbia and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,000±$27kHighest about the CT average |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
| Middlefield and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
12%Highest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Chaplin 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 | #65 of 149 in CT | — | #121 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | Middletown High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
11.8Highest |
— |
| 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.