Compare towns
Columbia vs Suffield vs Windham 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).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
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 | Suffield | Windham | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
15,702 |
23,961Highest |
7,116 |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below 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% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.4%±3.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Windham 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% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest 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% CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.3%±2.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$109,135±$19k 14% above CT |
| Columbia and Suffield 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 |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$345,900±$40k 6% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$1,630±$534Highest 10% above CT |
| Lebanon and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228 21% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$5,646 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
33%±18.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
4.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
31 min 15% above CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT | #74 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | Suffield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | Windham High School | Lyman Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
9.8 |
8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.