Compare towns
Coventry vs Reading vs Windham 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 most homeowners (90.7%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
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 | Windham | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,326 |
25,612Highest |
23,961 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.4±3.8 17% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
33.7±1.9Lowest 13% below 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% |
20.1%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest 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% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,213±$5k 34% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$55,736±$5kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$127,000±$30k 57% above U.S. |
| Reading and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,000±$23k about the U.S. average |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below 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. |
$1,107±$69 22% below U.S. |
$966±$304Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,284 69% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$4,633Lowest 49% above U.S. |
$5,228 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% |
57.1%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Coventry and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #41 of 149 in CT | #50 of 282 in MA | #143 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Coventry School District | Reading | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | Coventry High School | Reading Memorial High | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
12.1Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.