Compare towns

Middlefield vs Millis vs Columbia

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middlefield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Millis has the most expensive homes ($604k median).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).

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.

MeasureMiddlefieldMillisColumbia
People
Population
4,243Lowest
8,888Highest
5,300
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+7.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
51.6±1.9Highest
33% above U.S.
46.4±3Lowest
19% above U.S.
51.3±10.3
32% 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
13.9%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
18.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.7%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Millis and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.5%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.9%±5.4
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+
41.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Middlefield and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$99,837±$20kLowest
24% above U.S.
$155,996±$9kHighest
93% above U.S.
$127,000±$30k
57% above U.S.
Millis and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$376,000±$27k
13% above U.S.
$603,500±$31kHighest
81% above U.S.
$361,500±$16kLowest
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$3,501Highest
148% above U.S.
$1,696±$279
20% above U.S.
$966±$304Lowest
32% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,853
120% above U.S.
$9,344Highest
200% above U.S.
$5,228Lowest
68% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
85.4%±52.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.5%±16.6
U.S.: 51.1%
17.6%±16.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Middlefield and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
31 min
16% above U.S.
32 minHighest
21% above U.S.
Work from home
10.9%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.5%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
21.6%±6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Columbia and Millis 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 #63 of 282 in MA #114 of 149 in CT
School district Regional School District 13 Millis Columbia School District
High school in town None in town Millis High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.7
—
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.