Compare towns
Columbia vs Upton vs Stratford
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).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 70.4).
Stratford has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Columbia | Upton | Stratford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 683 |
91Lowest |
950Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±10.1 33% above U.S. |
70.4±0.4Highest 81% above U.S. |
49.8±16.8Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
0%±34.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±7.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratford 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% |
80.2%±49.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Columbia and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,917±$13kHighest 28% below U.S. |
— | $49,583±$14kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Columbia and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,400±$29kHighest 41% below U.S. |
— | $161,100±$48kLowest 52% below U.S. |
| Columbia and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $792±$333Highest 44% below U.S. |
— | $775±$264Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Columbia and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,009 36% below U.S. |
$731Lowest 77% below U.S. |
$2,512Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 9.1%±95.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±53.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratford and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
23.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 9% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±12Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Stratford School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.