Compare towns
Middlefield vs Thompson 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 housing (typical home built 1961).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | Thompson | Durham | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,243Lowest |
9,337Highest |
7,208 |
5,300 |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9 26% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
45.5±2.8Lowest 11% above CT |
51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
| Thompson and Middlefield 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% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Durham 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 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3 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% |
21.9%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% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5 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 |
$93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average |
$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 |
$291,900±$24kLowest 20% 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 |
$1,012±$344 32% below CT |
$1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853 3% above CT |
$3,822Lowest 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% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Thompson 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% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1963 4 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 |
32 min 20% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Thompson School District | Regional School District 13 | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Coginchaug Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
8.9Highest |
— |
| 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.