Compare towns
Middlefield vs Putnam 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
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
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.
| Measure | Middlefield | Putnam | Durham | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,243Lowest |
9,292Highest |
7,208 |
5,300 |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above 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% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Durham 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% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest 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% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| 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 | $99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
| Durham 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 about the CT average |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
| Durham and Middlefield 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 |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853 3% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Durham 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Putnam School District | Regional School District 13 | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Coginchaug Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Highest |
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.