Compare towns

Columbia vs Springfield vs Lemington

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Columbia has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
Lemington has the most people working from home (22.2%).

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.

MeasureColumbiaSpringfieldLemington
People
Population
683
1,122Highest
108Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-12.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
51.8±10.1
33% above U.S.
51.4±8.8Lowest
32% above U.S.
53.8±22.6Highest
38% above U.S.
Lemington and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.4%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±21.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Lemington and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.9%±8.3
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
35.2%±23.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Lemington 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
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.9%±9.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Columbia and Lemington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$57,917±$13k
28% below U.S.
$100,893±$19kHighest
25% above U.S.
$55,000±$42kLowest
32% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$196,400±$29k
41% below U.S.
$384,100±$50kHighest
15% above U.S.
$138,400±$14kLowest
58% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$792±$333Lowest
44% below U.S.
$1,096±$217Highest
22% below U.S.
—
Springfield 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.
$5,946Highest
91% above U.S.
$2,365
24% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
9.1%±95.8
U.S.: 51.1%
25.9%±64.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Springfield 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%
3.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
1.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
34 min
30% above U.S.
37 minHighest
40% above U.S.
Work from home
11.2%±6.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±11.6
U.S.: 15.1%
22.2%±12.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lemington and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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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.