Compare towns
Lemington vs Reading 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
Lemington has the most affordable homes ($138k median).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
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 | Lemington | Reading | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 108Lowest |
699Highest |
683 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±22.6Highest 38% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Lowest 31% above U.S. |
51.8±10.1 33% above U.S. |
| Lemington and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±21.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lemington and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.2%±23.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±8.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lemington and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±9.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Columbia and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,000±$42kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$57,917±$13k 28% below 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 | $138,400±$14kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$196,400±$29k 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,100±$331Highest 22% below U.S. |
$792±$333Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Reading and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,365 24% below U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$2,009Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
9.1%±95.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.2%±12.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Lemington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.