What stands out worked out from the figures below

Columbia has the highest household income ($57k).

Eustis has the most expensive homes ($262k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Columbia	Eustis
People
Population	529Highest	453Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3.7% ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.9±6.4Lowest 6% below ME	59.1±14Highest 32% above ME
	Eustis and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.2%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1%	15.5%±13.4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Columbia and Eustis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.9%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	38.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Eustis and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.2%Highest ME: 36.2%	13%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.1%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8%	1.8%±4.8Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Columbia and Eustis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,667±$15kHighest 24% below ME	$32,118±$11kLowest 57% below ME
	Columbia and Eustis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$158,700±$19kLowest 46% below ME	$262,200±$51kHighest 12% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$894±$162Lowest 22% below ME	$916±$547Highest 20% below ME
	Eustis and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,226Lowest 60% below ME	$1,542Highest 49% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.9%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%	66%±37.8Highest ME: 48.4%
	Eustis and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	23%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	61.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME	1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 27% above ME	12 minLowest 52% below ME
Work from home	9%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	12.5%±6.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Eustis and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Eustis Public Schools
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.