What stands out worked out from the figures below

Warren has the youngest population (median age 35.3).

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	Warren	Columbia
People
Population	1,294Lowest	1,508Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-0.7%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	35.3±4.8Lowest 11% below NY	45.5±4.7Highest 14% above NY
Kids under 18	20.6%±2.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	21%±4.5Highest NY: 20.5%
	Columbia and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.1%±2.8Lowest NY: 17.9%	16.7%±2.2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Columbia and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24%Highest NY: 40.2%	22.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.9Highest NY: 7%	3.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%
	Warren and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,750±$18kLowest 15% below NY	$90,795±$13kHighest 6% above NY
	Columbia and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$192,400±$31kHighest 55% below NY	$187,500±$22kLowest 56% below NY
	Warren and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,010±$362Highest 38% below NY	$847±$47Lowest 48% below NY
	Warren and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,801Lowest 57% below NY	$2,838Highest 57% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.7%±20.9Lowest NY: 52.1%	20%±49.1Highest NY: 52.1%
	Columbia and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.3%Highest NY: 14%	7.5%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	87.3%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 11 yrs newer than NY	1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 15% below NY	34 minHighest 5% above NY
Work from home	13.2%±4.7Highest NY: 14.9%	11.6%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Warren 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.