What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Litchfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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	Litchfield
People
Population	1,508Highest	1,418Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.5±4.7Highest 14% above NY	40±8Lowest about the NY average
	Columbia and Litchfield 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%	25.9%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%
	Litchfield 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%	18.5%±2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Litchfield 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%	25.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.6Highest NY: 7%	3%±2.2Lowest NY: 7%
	Columbia and Litchfield 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	$87,750±$18kLowest about the NY average
	Columbia and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$187,500±$22kLowest 56% below NY	$206,600±$26kHighest 51% below NY
	Litchfield and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$847±$47 48% below NY	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,838Lowest 57% below NY	$3,224Highest 51% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±49.1Lowest NY: 52.1%	52.3%±68.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Litchfield and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Highest NY: 14%	5.5%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%	90.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 13 yrs newer than NY	1983Highest 24 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 5% above NY	24 minLowest 25% below NY
Work from home	11.6%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9%	7.8%±4.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Columbia and Litchfield 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.