Compare towns
Columbia vs Hebron vs Thompson
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 renters (16.7% rent).
Hebron has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | Hebron | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
9,157 |
9,337Highest |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 10% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Thompson and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.8%±3.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Hebron and Columbia 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% |
18.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% CT: 42.5% |
52.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Hebron and Columbia 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 |
$142,500±$23kHighest 49% above CT |
$93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average |
| Hebron 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 |
$385,800±$15kHighest 5% above CT |
$291,900±$24kLowest 20% below CT |
| Hebron 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 |
$1,635±$241Highest 10% above CT |
$1,012±$344 32% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228 21% below CT |
$8,263Highest 24% above CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
61.5%±28.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Hebron and Thompson 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% |
4.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 17 yrs newer than CT |
1986Highest 19 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
32 minLowest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6 CT: 16% |
27.2%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Hebron and Columbia 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 | #28 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | Hebron School District · Regional School District 08 | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | RHAM High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.