Compare towns
Dummer vs Upton vs Benton 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
Dummer has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Upton has the most people working from home (13%).
Columbia has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Dummer | Upton | Benton | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 299 |
91Lowest |
386 |
683Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -12.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
70.4±0.4Highest 81% above U.S. |
62.1±1.9 60% above U.S. |
51.8±10.1Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
0%±34.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
6.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummer and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
80.2%±49.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
37.3%±12.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±8.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±12.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$21kHighest 13% above U.S. |
— | $67,895±$4k 16% below U.S. |
$57,917±$13kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Dummer and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,200±$51k 27% below U.S. |
— | $288,300±$46kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$196,400±$29kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Benton and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | — | $792±$333 44% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,898 7% below U.S. |
$731Lowest 77% below U.S. |
$2,922Highest 6% below U.S. |
$2,009 36% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
9.1%±95.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±12Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | 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.