Compare towns
Andover vs Columbia vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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.
| Measure | Andover | Columbia | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,152Lowest |
5,300 |
9,337Highest |
| Median age | 51.2±5.4Lowest 25% above CT |
51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Thompson and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Andover and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±5.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Andover and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,632±$20kHighest 41% above CT |
$127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
$93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average |
| Andover and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,500±$36kHighest about the CT average |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
$291,900±$24kLowest 20% below CT |
| Andover and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$745Highest 22% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,012±$344 32% below CT |
| Andover and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Highest about the CT average |
$5,228 21% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.8%±38.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Andover and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.1%Highest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.4 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Andover 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 | #43 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Andover School District | Columbia School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.