Compare towns
Columbia vs Colebrook vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Colebrook has the most kids (17.9% under 18).
Andover has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Columbia | Colebrook | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Highest |
1,494Lowest |
3,152 |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
51.2±5.4Lowest 25% above CT |
| Colebrook and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Colebrook and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.2%±5.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Colebrook and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
36.6% CT: 42.5% |
46.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
8.2%±4.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Andover and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
$111,250±$17kLowest 16% above CT |
$134,632±$20kHighest 41% above CT |
| Andover and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$16k about the CT average |
$342,800±$19kLowest 7% below CT |
$376,500±$36kHighest about the CT average |
| Andover and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,333±$626Highest 10% below CT |
$1,166±$745 22% below CT |
| Colebrook and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228Lowest 21% below CT |
$6,211 7% below CT |
$6,554Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
60.8%±38.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Andover and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
93.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
15.5%±5.4 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 | #114 of 149 in CT | — | #43 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | Colebrook School District | Andover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.