Compare towns
Columbia vs Stepney 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).
Stepney has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (31 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 | Stepney | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
3,979Lowest |
7,116Highest |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
47.1±5.6 15% above CT |
46.9±2.7Lowest 14% above CT |
| Columbia and Stepney 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% |
21.1%±5.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.4%±3.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Stepney 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% |
17.7%±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% |
54.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.3%±2.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney 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 |
$153,966±$16kHighest 61% above CT |
$109,135±$19kLowest 14% above CT |
| Stepney 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 |
$475,800±$53kHighest 30% above CT |
$345,900±$40kLowest 6% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$1,630±$534 10% above CT |
| Stepney 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 |
$9,309Highest 40% above CT |
$5,646 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
33%±18.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Stepney 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% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
88% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1977Lowest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
31 minLowest 15% above CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | #74 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | — | Lebanon School District |
| High school 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.