Compare towns

Pomfret vs Columbia vs Beacon Falls

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pomfret has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Columbia has the highest household income ($127k).
Beacon Falls has the most affordable homes ($350k median).

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.

MeasurePomfretColumbiaBeacon Falls
People
Population
4,317Lowest
5,300
6,147Highest
Median age
45.9±3.7Lowest
12% above CT
51.3±10.3Highest
25% above CT
48.4±3.8
18% above CT
Columbia and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.1%±4.9Highest
CT: 20.2%
13.7%±4.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
18%±4.8
CT: 20.2%
Pomfret and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.8%±4.5Lowest
CT: 18.5%
24.9%±5.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
23.5%±4.4
CT: 18.5%
Columbia and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
50.8%Highest
CT: 42.5%
34.6%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
44.6%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.8%±2.5Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.3%±3.2
CT: 7.1%
Pomfret and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$108,476±$8k
13% above CT
$127,000±$30kHighest
33% above CT
$101,516±$42kLowest
6% above CT
Columbia and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$409,100±$28kHighest
12% above CT
$361,500±$16k
about the CT average
$350,300±$34kLowest
5% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,210±$300
19% below CT
$966±$304Lowest
35% below CT
$1,921±$286Highest
29% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,903
11% below CT
$5,228Lowest
21% below CT
$6,534Highest
about the CT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.9%±15.3Highest
CT: 52.6%
17.6%±16.2Lowest
CT: 52.6%
50.7%±30.4
CT: 52.6%
Pomfret and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6%
CT: 10%
6.1%Highest
CT: 10%
2.1%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.5%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
83.3%
CT: 66.5%
85.5%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Lowest
11 yrs newer than CT
1984
17 yrs newer than CT
1985Highest
18 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
11% below CT
32 min
21% above CT
33 minHighest
23% above CT
Work from home
13.2%±5.2Lowest
CT: 16%
21.6%±6Highest
CT: 16%
20.3%±7.4
CT: 16%
Columbia and Beacon Falls 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 #39 of 149 in CT #114 of 149 in CT #77 of 149 in CT
School district Pomfret School District Columbia School District Regional School District 16
High school in town None in town None in town Woodland Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.2
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.