Compare towns
Coventry vs Union vs Prospect vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Coventry has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Prospect has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Union | Prospect | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,326Highest |
944Lowest |
9,458 |
5,300 |
| Median age | 45.4±3.8Lowest 10% above CT |
49.9±4.3 21% above CT |
46.8±3.9 14% above CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
| Columbia and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.2 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.3% CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Union and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,213±$5k 13% above CT |
$88,958±$14kLowest 7% below CT |
$126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
| Columbia and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,000±$23kLowest 10% below CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
$355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Columbia and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$330 17% below CT |
— | $1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Prospect and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,284 20% below CT |
$4,793Lowest 28% below CT |
$6,504Highest about the CT average |
$5,228 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±23.8 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 1 yr older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 min 20% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±4.6 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Coventry 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 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Coventry School District | Union School District | Regional School District 16 | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | Coventry High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.