What stands out worked out from the figures below

Columbia has the most kids (24.2% under 18).

Knox has the most people working from home (12.3%).

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	Knox
People
Population	529Lowest	825Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+0.6% ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.9±6.4Highest 6% below ME	41.1±7.9Lowest 8% below ME
	Columbia and Knox 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%	13.9%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	25.9%±5.9Highest ME: 22.4%	17.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Columbia and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%	26%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.1%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8%	4.6%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Columbia and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,667±$15kLowest 24% below ME	$64,821±$9kHighest 13% below ME
	Knox and Columbia 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	$159,600±$26kHighest 46% below ME
	Knox and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$894±$162Lowest 22% below ME	$1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,226Lowest 60% below ME	$1,610Highest 47% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	11.3%±31.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Columbia and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.4%Highest ME: 10.7%	8.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	80.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME	1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 27% above ME	30 minLowest 22% above ME
Work from home	9%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	12.3%±7.4Highest ME: 15.9%
	Knox and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.