What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Winfield has the most kids (26.8% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Columbia	Winfield
People
Population	1,508Lowest	1,874Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-9.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.5±4.7Highest 14% above NY	38.8±6.3Lowest about the NY average
	Columbia and Winfield 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%	26.8%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5%
	Winfield 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%	20.4%±2.4Highest NY: 17.9%
	Winfield 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%Highest NY: 40.2%	18.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.6Highest NY: 7%	2.7%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%
	Columbia and Winfield 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	$66,917±$10kLowest 22% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$187,500±$22kHighest 56% below NY	$140,500±$20kLowest 67% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$847±$47Highest 48% below NY	$617±$70Lowest 62% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,838Highest 57% below NY	$2,378Lowest 64% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±49.1Lowest NY: 52.1%	54.3%±26Highest NY: 52.1%
	Winfield 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%	15.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	80.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY	1958Lowest 1 yr older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 5% above NY	36 minHighest 9% above NY
Work from home	11.6%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9%	9.2%±3.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Columbia and Winfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	MOUNT MARKHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	MOUNT MARKHAM SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.0
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.