What stands out worked out from the figures below

Columbia has the most affordable homes ($196k median).

Minot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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	Minot
People
Population	683Lowest	2,794Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.8±10.1Highest 33% above U.S.	49±6.1Lowest 26% above U.S.
	Columbia and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%	16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Columbia and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.9%±8.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Columbia and Minot 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 U.S.: 35.7%	25.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Columbia and Minot 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 28% below U.S.	$95,655±$17kHighest 18% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$196,400±$29kLowest 41% below U.S.	$294,900±$26kHighest 11% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$792±$333Lowest 44% below U.S.	$878±$801Highest 38% below U.S.
	Minot and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,009Lowest 36% below U.S.	$2,602Highest 17% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	9.1%±95.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	35.7%±40.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Minot 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 U.S.: 12.5%	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	11.2%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Minot and Columbia 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	—	#78 of 133 in ME
School district	—	RSU 16
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.