What stands out worked out from the figures below

Columbia has the shortest commute (20 min average).

Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).

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	Wheelock
People
Population	683Lowest	717Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.8±10.1Highest 33% above U.S.	51±5.6Lowest 31% above U.S.
	Columbia and Wheelock 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%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Wheelock 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%	29.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Columbia and Wheelock 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%	34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Columbia and Wheelock 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.	$64,792±$20kHighest 20% below U.S.
	Wheelock 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±$29kHighest 41% below U.S.	$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S.
	Columbia and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$792±$333 44% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,009Lowest 36% below U.S.	$2,937Highest 6% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	9.1%±95.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Columbia and Wheelock 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%	8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.	28 minHighest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	11.2%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.1%±16Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wheelock and Columbia 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.