Compare towns

Middlefield vs Upton vs Columbia vs Middletown

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 oldest population (median age 51.6).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).

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.

MeasureMiddlefieldUptonColumbiaMiddletown
People
Population
4,243Lowest
8,189
5,300
47,958Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+0.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.6±1.9Highest
33% above U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
51.3±10.3
32% above U.S.
38.1±1.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
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%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.7%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
14.3%±1.3
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
25.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
24.9%±5.4
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±1.3Lowest
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%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
15.5%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$99,837±$20k
24% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$127,000±$30k
57% above U.S.
$79,438±$6kLowest
about the U.S. average
Upton 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.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$361,500±$16k
9% above U.S.
$295,300±$11kLowest
11% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$3,501Highest
148% above U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$966±$304
32% below U.S.
$1,446±$45
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,853
120% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$5,228Lowest
68% above U.S.
$6,412
106% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
85.4%±52.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
17.6%±16.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.7%±5.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Middlefield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
12%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
52.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
32 min
21% above U.S.
23 minLowest
12% below U.S.
Work from home
10.9%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.6%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
14.1%±1.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Upton 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 #46 of 282 in MA #114 of 149 in CT #121 of 149 in CT
School district Regional School District 13 Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Columbia School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
High school in town None in town Blackstone Valley None in town Middletown High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.2Lowest
—
11.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.