Compare towns
Columbia vs Deep River vs Lebanon
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 highest household income ($127k).
Deep River has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Lebanon has the most homeowners (88%).
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 | Deep River | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
4,458Lowest |
7,116Highest |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
46.2±5.6Lowest 12% above CT |
46.9±2.7 14% above CT |
| Columbia and Lebanon 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% |
16.6%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
17.4%±3.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Lebanon and Deep River 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% |
22.1%±4.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.6%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Lebanon 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% |
44.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.3%±2.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Columbia and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$90,253±$19kLowest 6% below CT |
$109,135±$19k 14% above CT |
| Columbia and Lebanon 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 |
$362,200±$26kHighest about the CT average |
$345,900±$40kLowest 6% below CT |
| Deep River 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 |
$1,221±$185 18% below CT |
$1,630±$534Highest 10% above CT |
| Lebanon and Deep River 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 |
$6,092Highest 8% below CT |
$5,646 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±22.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
33%±18.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Deep River and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% CT: 10% |
8.2%Highest CT: 10% |
4.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% CT: 66.5% |
69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1974Lowest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
31 min 15% above CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±7.9 CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Lebanon 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 | #70 of 149 in CT | #74 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Valley Regional High School | Lyman Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Highest |
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.