Compare towns

Middlefield vs Windsor Locks vs Brooklyn 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 most expensive homes ($376k median).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Brooklyn has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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.

MeasureMiddlefieldWindsor LocksBrooklynColumbia
People
Population
4,243Lowest
12,579Highest
8,517
5,300
Median age
51.6±1.9Highest
26% above CT
41.4±2.6Lowest
about the CT average
45.6±2.5
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%±3.4
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±4.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
13.7%±4.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Brooklyn and Windsor Locks 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%
18.2%±2.7
CT: 18.5%
17.6%±2.9Lowest
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%Highest
CT: 42.5%
28.6%
CT: 42.5%
23.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
34.6%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.4
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.7
CT: 7.1%
4.8%±2.5Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Windsor Locks and Middlefield 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
$81,205±$13kLowest
15% below CT
$96,207±$15k
about the CT average
$127,000±$30kHighest
33% above CT
Columbia and Middlefield 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
$258,800±$14kLowest
29% below CT
$315,200±$28k
14% 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
$1,394±$187
6% below CT
$1,125±$98
24% below CT
$966±$304Lowest
35% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,853Highest
3% above CT
$3,688Lowest
44% below CT
$4,538
32% below CT
$5,228
21% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
85.4%±52.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
58.2%±16.8
CT: 52.6%
38.5%±19.3
CT: 52.6%
17.6%±16.2Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Middlefield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.1%
CT: 10%
10.9%Highest
CT: 10%
2.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
6.1%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%Highest
CT: 66.5%
77.1%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
81.7%
CT: 66.5%
83.3%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1978
11 yrs newer than CT
1984Highest
17 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below CT
22 minLowest
17% below CT
27 min
about the CT average
32 minHighest
21% above CT
Work from home
10.9%±4.1
CT: 16%
17.7%±3.7
CT: 16%
10.7%±5.4Lowest
CT: 16%
21.6%±6Highest
CT: 16%
Columbia and Windsor Locks 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 #109 of 149 in CT #113 of 149 in CT #114 of 149 in CT
School district Regional School District 13 Windsor Locks School District Brooklyn School District Columbia School District
High school in town None in town Windsor Locks High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.9
— —
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.