What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Newburgh has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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	Newburgh
People
Population	683Lowest	1,475Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.8±10.1Highest 33% above U.S.	45.8±5.7Lowest 18% above U.S.
	Columbia and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Newburgh 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 U.S.: 17.2%	21.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Columbia and Newburgh 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%	29.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Columbia and Newburgh 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.	$76,750±$10kHighest 5% below U.S.
	Newburgh 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 41% below U.S.	$244,600±$20kHighest 26% below U.S.
	Newburgh and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$792±$333Lowest 44% below U.S.	$950±$219Highest 33% below U.S.
	Newburgh 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.	$2,748Highest 12% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	9.1%±95.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	42.9%±13.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Newburgh 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 U.S.: 12.5%	11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	81.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	11.2%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Columbia and Newburgh 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

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.