Compare towns
Coventry vs Reading vs Reading vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Coventry has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Columbia has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
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.
| Measure | Coventry | Reading | Reading | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,326 |
25,612Highest |
25,612Highest |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.4±3.8 17% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
51.3±10.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Columbia and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Columbia and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Columbia and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,213±$5kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$127,000±$30k 57% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,000±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$361,500±$16k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$330 13% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$966±$304Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,284 69% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$5,228Lowest 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #41 of 149 in CT | #50 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Coventry School District | — | Reading | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | Coventry High School | — | Reading Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.