What stands out worked out from the figures below

Knox has the most people working from home (12.3%).

Columbia has the most kids (24.2% under 18).

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	Knox	Columbia
People
Population	825Highest	529Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	41.1±7.9Lowest 8% below ME	41.9±6.4Highest 6% below ME
	Columbia and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.9%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	24.2%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	17.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	25.9%±5.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Columbia and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26%Highest ME: 36.2%	21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8%	9.1%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8%
	Columbia and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,821±$9kHighest 13% below ME	$56,667±$15kLowest 24% below ME
	Knox and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$159,600±$26kHighest 46% below ME	$158,700±$19kLowest 46% below ME
	Knox and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME	$894±$162Lowest 22% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,610Highest 47% below ME	$1,226Lowest 60% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	11.3%±31.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	61.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Columbia and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%	13.4%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	81.8%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 22% above ME	31 minHighest 27% above ME
Work from home	12.3%±7.4Highest ME: 15.9%	9%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Knox and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.