What stands out worked out from the figures below

Columbia has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).

Fenner has the most people working from home (15.6%).

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	Fenner
People
Population	1,508Lowest	1,719Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.5±4.7Highest 14% above NY	45±5.9Lowest 13% above NY
	Columbia and Fenner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5%	24.3%±3.6Highest NY: 20.5%
	Fenner and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.7%±2.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	19.4%±2.9Highest NY: 17.9%
	Fenner and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	25.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.6Highest NY: 7%	2.2%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%
	Columbia and Fenner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,795±$13kHighest 6% above NY	$77,750±$4kLowest 10% below NY
	Columbia and Fenner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$187,500±$22kHighest 56% below NY	$184,200±$20kLowest 57% below NY
	Columbia and Fenner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$847±$47Highest 48% below NY	$636±$97Lowest 61% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,838Lowest 57% below NY	$3,073Highest 53% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±49.1Lowest NY: 52.1%	36.8%±19.7Highest NY: 52.1%
	Fenner and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest NY: 14%	11.5%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	86%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 13 yrs newer than NY	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 5% above NY	26 minLowest 21% below NY
Work from home	11.6%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	15.6%±5.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Fenner 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

NY 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.