Compare towns
Andover vs Webster vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Andover | Webster | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,152Lowest |
17,748Highest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.2±5.4 32% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.3±10.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Columbia and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Columbia and Webster 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Webster 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 67% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$127,000±$30k 57% above U.S. |
| 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 13% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$361,500±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Andover and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$745 17% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$966±$304Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Webster and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$5,228 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.8%±38.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Andover School District | Webster | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.