What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Warren has the youngest population (median age 35.3).

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	Warren
People
Population	1,508Highest	1,294Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.5±4.7Highest 14% above NY	35.3±4.8Lowest 11% below NY
Kids under 18	21%±4.5Highest NY: 20.5%	20.6%±2.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Columbia and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.7%±2.2Highest NY: 17.9%	14.1%±2.8Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Columbia and Warren 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%	24%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%	5.1%±2.9Highest NY: 7%
	Warren and Columbia 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	$72,750±$18kLowest 15% below NY
	Columbia and Warren 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	$192,400±$31kHighest 55% below NY
	Warren and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$847±$47Lowest 48% below NY	$1,010±$362Highest 38% below NY
	Warren and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,838Highest 57% below NY	$2,801Lowest 57% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±49.1Highest NY: 52.1%	19.7%±20.9Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Columbia and Warren 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%	19.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	78.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY	1970Lowest 11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 5% above NY	28 minLowest 15% below NY
Work from home	11.6%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.2%±4.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Warren 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.