Compare towns
Columbia vs Coventry vs Durham
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 oldest population (median age 51.3).
Coventry has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
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 | Coventry | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
12,326Highest |
7,208 |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
45.4±3.8Lowest 10% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
| Columbia and Durham 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% |
20.9%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Coventry and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.2%±3.3 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Coventry 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% |
45% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±2 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Columbia and Coventry 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 |
$108,213±$5kLowest 13% above CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
| Durham 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 |
$330,000±$23kLowest 10% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,232±$330Highest 17% below CT |
$1,154±$448 22% below CT |
| Coventry and Durham 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 |
$5,284 20% below CT |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
62.7%±23.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Coventry and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1%Highest CT: 10% |
5.1% CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.7% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1966Lowest 1 yr older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±4.6Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Durham 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 | #41 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | Coventry School District | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | Coventry High School | Coginchaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.