Compare towns
Brookfield vs Stratton vs Harmony vs Columbus
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
Harmony has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Columbus has the most people working from home (22.2%).
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 | Brookfield | Stratton | Harmony | Columbus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,150 |
532Lowest |
2,344Highest |
849 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±6.1 6% above U.S. |
31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S. |
41.8±7 7% above U.S. |
43.6±11.8Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Columbus and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratton and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Harmony and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,205±$9k 14% below U.S. |
$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$58,600±$11kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$58,889±$11k 27% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $152,800±$28k 54% below U.S. |
$400,000±$50kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$128,300±$15k 61% below U.S. |
$124,700±$36kLowest 63% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $981±$75 31% below U.S. |
$1,208±$979 15% below U.S. |
$788±$40Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,500±$635Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Columbus and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,197 about the U.S. average |
$4,750Highest 52% above U.S. |
$2,805Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$3,071 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±35.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±69.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43%±18.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±92.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Columbus and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±16.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Columbus and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | PANAMA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | — | PANAMA HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.