Compare towns
Middlefield vs Quinebaug 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Quinebaug has the most affordable homes ($238k median).
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 | Quinebaug | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,243 |
1,193Lowest |
5,300Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.7% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9 26% above CT |
56.5±1Highest 37% above CT |
51.3±10.3Lowest 25% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
0%±3.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Middlefield and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±7.2 CT: 18.5% |
29.1%±9.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Quinebaug and Middlefield 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% |
10.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest 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±$20kLowest 4% above CT |
$105,181±$36k 10% above CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
| Columbia and Quinebaug 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 |
$237,800±$66kLowest 35% 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 |
— | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$3,703Lowest 44% below CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
1.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
97%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
23.3%±17.9Highest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6 CT: 16% |
| Quinebaug 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 | #65 of 149 in CT | — | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | — | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.