Compare towns
Columbia vs Orange 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 oldest population (median age 51.3).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
Lebanon has the most affordable homes ($346k 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 | Orange | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
14,315Highest |
7,116 |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
45.6±2.4Lowest 11% 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% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.4%±3.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Lebanon 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% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
22.6%±4.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Orange 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% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.3%±2.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Orange 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 |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$109,135±$19kLowest 14% above CT |
| Orange 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 |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$345,900±$40kLowest 6% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,630±$534 10% above CT |
| Orange and Lebanon 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 |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$5,646 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
33%±18.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Lebanon 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% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
88% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
31 min 15% above CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Lowest 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #74 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lyman Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
| 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.