What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fenner has the most people working from home (15.6%).

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

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	Fenner	Columbia
People
Population	1,719Highest	1,508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-0.7%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45±5.9Lowest 13% above NY	45.5±4.7Highest 14% above NY
	Columbia and Fenner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.3%±3.6Highest NY: 20.5%	21%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Fenner and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±2.9Highest NY: 17.9%	16.7%±2.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Fenner and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.8%Highest NY: 40.2%	22.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	3.2%±1.6Highest NY: 7%
	Columbia and Fenner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,750±$4kLowest 10% below NY	$90,795±$13kHighest 6% above NY
	Columbia and Fenner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$184,200±$20kLowest 57% below NY	$187,500±$22kHighest 56% below NY
	Columbia and Fenner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$636±$97Lowest 61% below NY	$847±$47Highest 48% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,073Highest 53% below NY	$2,838Lowest 57% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.8%±19.7Highest NY: 52.1%	20%±49.1Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Fenner and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.5%Highest NY: 14%	7.5%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86%Lowest NY: 54.3%	87.3%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY	1972Lowest 13 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 21% below NY	34 minHighest 5% above NY
Work from home	15.6%±5.2Highest NY: 14.9%	11.6%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Fenner 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

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.