Population 5,011 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Columbia
Household size in Columbia
| Period | Columbia | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.55 | 2.51 | 2.57 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.58 | 2.52 | 2.61 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.50 | 2.49 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.57 | 2.47 | 2.55 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.02 | −0.04 | −0.02 | −0.03 |
Households in Columbia run a little small, averaging 2.57 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Even so, the typical household here is bigger than in the Hartford area overall, where it has 2.47 people. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the south.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Columbia
| Period | Columbia | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.6 | 40.4 | 40.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 48.3 | 41.2 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 49.1 | 41.9 | 42.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 50.5 | 41.9 | 42.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.9 | +1.5 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 50.5, Columbia is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 45.6 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Columbia is older than the great majority of Connecticut cities.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Columbia
| Period | Columbia | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.2% | 11.4% | 11.2% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.1% | 12.1% | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 10.7% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 11.0% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −0.4 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Columbia: 4.9% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has edged down 1.3 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Columbia has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of Connecticut cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Columbia
Renters in Columbia
| Period | Columbia | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.2% | 31.0% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.1% | 32.4% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 5.9% | 33.7% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 16.2% | 32.7% | 33.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +12.1 pts | +1.7 pts | +2.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Columbia is largely a place of homeowners: only 16.2% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About a third of owners (33.4%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 12.1 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Columbia
| Period | Columbia | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.6% | 8.0% | 8.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 8.2% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.8% | 9.2% | 10.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.7% | 7.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Columbia: 14.7% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 3.1 points, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Columbia
| Period | Columbia | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1971 | 1964 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1978 | 1965 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1978 | 1966 | 1964 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1984 | 1967 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +13 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Columbia is a little younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1984, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1971 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the east, the oldest in the northwest. Of the 145 Connecticut cities with 5,000+ people, only three have newer homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Columbia
| Period | Columbia | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,320 | $1,014 | $1,127 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,350 | $1,114 | $1,218 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,144 | $1,229 | $1,380 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $978 | $1,559 | $1,702 | $1,571 |
| Change | −$342 | +$545 | +$575 | +$606 |
Rent in Columbia runs $978 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has fallen $342 a month since 2006–10, down 26%, even as the national median rose. The typical renter here spends 28.6% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Only two of the 145 Connecticut cities with 5,000+ people have lower rents.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Columbia
Bachelor's degrees in Columbia
| Period | Columbia | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.2% | 35.0% | 35.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 36.6% | 36.2% | 37.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 46.5% | 39.1% | 39.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 35.5% | 41.8% | 42.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | +6.8 pts | +6.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Columbia as nationally: 35.5% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share is lower than in the wider Hartford area (41.8%). The share with a degree is down 2.7 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Columbia
| Period | Columbia | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.8% | 88.3% | 88.1% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.5% | 89.6% | 89.2% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.3% | 90.7% | 90.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.7% | 91.8% | 91.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | +3.5 pts | +3.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Columbia is close to the national rate: 89.7% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in the Hartford area overall (91.8%). The share with a diploma has fallen 3.1 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate rose.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Columbia
| Period | Columbia | Hartford area | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.7% | 7.6% | 7.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.9% | 9.5% | 9.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.1% | 5.7% | 6.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.2% | 5.2% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs a little high in Columbia: 6.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 0.5 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Columbia compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | 2.57 | 50.5 | 4.9% | 16.2% | 14.7% | 1984 | $978 | 35.5% | 89.7% | 6.2% |
| Liberty Hill | 2.55 | 46.5 | 5.0% | 5.9% | 7.0% | 1981 | $1,613 | 33.3% | 96.0% | 0.8% |
| Andover | 2.62 | 46.4 | 6.6% | 6.7% | 6.0% | 1973 | $1,153 | 45.6% | 97.8% | 0.5% |
| Hebron | 2.65 | 45.0 | 8.9% | 11.2% | 4.7% | 1984 | $1,577 | 52.2% | 97.7% | 3.5% |
| Willimantic | 2.46 | 33.2 | 20.2% | 61.5% | 6.1% | 1951 | $1,247 | 23.5% | 80.2% | 6.5% |
| Amston | 2.71 | 45.9 | 4.9% | 17.6% | 10.6% | 1987 | $1,405 | 53.8% | 95.8% | 4.9% |
| Lebanon | 2.51 | 45.2 | 5.5% | 13.7% | 9.1% | 1977 | $1,550 | 41.4% | 97.6% | 2.3% |
| Mansfield City | 2.37 | 48.9 | 10.1% | 3.6% | 8.0% | 1956 | $1,858 | 66.7% | 99.2% | 6.0% |
| Coventry | 2.50 | 44.8 | 10.9% | 10.5% | 4.9% | 1966 | $1,414 | 44.2% | 97.4% | 2.4% |
| Mansfield Center | 2.36 | 40.6 | 9.6% | 20.0% | 7.0% | 1969 | $1,708 | 59.2% | 96.1% | 5.9% |
| South Windham | 2.32 | 43.9 | 7.7% | 15.0% | 8.6% | 1962 | $1,179 | 30.2% | 92.0% | 8.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Mather, CA · Medway, OH · Medford Lakes, NJ · Meadowview, VA · Meadows Place, TX · Mead, CO · McRae, GA · McDonald, TN · McDonald, OH · Mccleary, WA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Columbia. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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