What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ansonia has the most kids (18.3% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ansonia	Columbia
People
Population	19,033Highest	5,300Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	40.1±1.6Lowest about the CT average	51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT
	Columbia and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.3%±2.8Highest CT: 20.2%	13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Ansonia and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.1%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5%	24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5%
	Columbia and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5%	34.6%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1%	4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Ansonia and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,877±$10kLowest 10% below CT	$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$287,200±$14kLowest 22% below CT	$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,476±$121Highest about the CT average	$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,446Highest 18% below CT	$5,228Lowest 21% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.7%±10Highest CT: 52.6%	17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Ansonia and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest CT: 10%	6.1%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.1%Lowest CT: 66.5%	83.3%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT	1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the CT average	32 minHighest 21% above CT
Work from home	9.1%±2.9Lowest CT: 16%	21.6%±6Highest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#142 of 149 in CT	#114 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District	Columbia School District
High school in town	Emmett O'Brien Technical High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.