What stands out worked out from the figures below

Columbia has the most people working from home (11.2%).

Benton has the most expensive homes ($288k 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	Benton
People
Population	683Highest	386Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.9% NH: +4.6%	—
Median age	51.8±10.1Lowest 20% above NH	62.1±1.9Highest 43% above NH
	Benton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.4%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2%	6.7%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	29.9%±8.3Lowest NH: 20.1%	37.3%±12.5Highest NH: 20.1%
	Benton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	14.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	18.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±3.7Highest NH: 6%	1.8%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,917±$13kLowest 42% below NH	$67,895±$4kHighest 31% below NH
	Benton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$196,400±$29kLowest 51% below NH	$288,300±$46kHighest 28% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$792±$333 47% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,009Lowest 70% below NH	$2,922Highest 56% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	9.1%±95.8Lowest NH: 48.2%	100%±100Highest NH: 48.2%
	Benton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%	15.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	92.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH	1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 24% below NH	32 minHighest 20% above NH
Work from home	11.2%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8%	2.6%±3.4Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Columbia and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NH 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.