What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Milan has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).

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	Milan
People
Population	683Lowest	1,334Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+1.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	51.8±10.1Highest 20% above NH	50.3±2.8Lowest 16% above NH
	Columbia and Milan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.4%±5.2Lowest NH: 18.2%	18.2%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2%
	Milan and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.9%±8.3Highest NH: 20.1%	22.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Columbia and Milan 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%	17.6%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±3.7Highest NH: 6%	3.7%±2.4Lowest NH: 6%
	Columbia and Milan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,917±$13kLowest 42% below NH	$70,300±$8kHighest 29% below NH
	Milan 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	$259,400±$30kHighest 36% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$792±$333Lowest 47% below NH	$878±$160Highest 41% below NH
	Milan and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,009Lowest 70% below NH	$3,674Highest 45% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	9.1%±95.8Lowest NH: 48.2%	17%±43.7Highest NH: 48.2%
	Milan and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Highest NH: 7.2%	6.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	87.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 24% below NH	30 minHighest 11% above NH
Work from home	11.2%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8%	5.9%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Columbia and Milan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Milan School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.