The Town Files

Columbia, Connecticut

Town · population 5,272 (2020 Census)

Map: where Columbia is in ConnecticutColumbia
Median home
$361,500
Household income
$127,000
Jan low / Jul high
18° / 83°
Snow a year
39 in
Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
7
Median age
51.3

Columbia is a town of 5,272 people, Connecticut. The median home is worth $361,500, close to the typical Connecticut town ($376,000). It ranks quieter than 100% of Connecticut towns, better for retirees than 84% of Connecticut towns, better for families than 72% of Connecticut towns.

Columbia in our rankings:

How Columbia ranks

Percentile among Connecticut towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Connecticut towns.

Columbia lifestyle rankings vs other Connecticut townsRetirement84th pctFamilies72nd pctQuiet100th pctWalkability14th pctFirst-time buyersbottomYoung professionals28th pctVibrancy33rd pctHip & trendy10th pctCollege town14th pctUpscale46th pctVacation homesbottomSeaside characterbottomCyclingbottomTransitbottomDriving64th pcttypical
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025).

Homes and cost of living

The median home in Columbia is worth $361,500, close to the typical Connecticut town ($376,000). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $127,000, which is more affordable than 89% of Connecticut towns. Median rent is $966 a month. 83.3% of households own their home.

Columbia vs county vs typical Connecticut townColumbiaCountyTypical Connecticut townHome value$361,500$376,000Household income$127,000$109,167Monthly rent$966$1,462
Census ACS 5-year estimates, 2020–2024. "Typical town" = median of Connecticut towns with 500+ people.
HousingColumbiaTypical Connecticut town
Median home value$361,500$376,000
Median rent$966$1,462
Median household income$127,000$109,167
Home value ÷ income2.8×3.6×
Homeownership83.3%80.3%
Median year built19841969
Seasonal / vacation homes2.2%—

Who lives in Columbia

PeopleColumbiaTypical Connecticut town
Median age51.345.0
Age 65 and over24.9%20.6%
Under 1813.7%—
Bachelor's degree or higher34.6%45.8%
Below the poverty line6.1%5.7%
Veterans11.1%—
Born outside the U.S.2.9%—
Work from home21.6%16.8%
Average commute32.0 min27.6 min
Homes with broadband97.4%93.8%

Weather in Columbia

July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 18.1°F. About 43.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.0 inches of snow (typical Connecticut town: 39.0 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 135 nights at or below freezing.

Columbia monthly temperatures and precipitation10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32° freezing36°18°Jan39°19°Feb47°27°Mar59°37°Apr70°47°May78°56°Jun83°62°Jul81°60°Aug74°52°Sep63°41°Oct52°31°Nov41°24°DecPrecipitation (in) · snow (in) in blue3.28.32.714.14.06.34.01.73.43.92.74.44.13.80.33.51.13.77.2
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals: average daily high and low by month; precipitation and snowfall in inches. Temperatures from the Willimantic Windham Ap station (7.1 mi away); snow from Storrs (8.1 mi).

Tornadoes, storms and disasters

7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbia since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Connecticut town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on August 18, 2023 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 18, 2023.

Tornadoes within 10 miles of Columbia by decade01950s11960s11970s01980s01990s02000s32010s22020s
NOAA Storm Events Database, tornado tracks (start to end point) passing within 10 miles of the town center, 1950–2026.

Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 24, 1999.

Public schools in Columbia

1 public school with 475 students, about 11.0 students per teacher.

SchoolGradesStudentsPer teacher
Horace W. Porter SchoolPK-847511.0

Towns near Columbia

Columbia questions

Is Columbia, Connecticut a good place to retire?

On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Columbia scores better for retirees than 84% of Connecticut towns and quieter than 100%. 24.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.3).

How much does a house cost in Columbia?

The median owner-occupied home in Columbia is valued at $361,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $127,000, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $966 a month.

What is the weather like in Columbia?

July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 18.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.2 inches of precipitation a year and 39.0 inches of snow.

Does Columbia get tornadoes?

7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on August 18, 2023. The typical Connecticut town has had 8.

How this page is made. Every number comes from public data, matched to Columbia's Census boundary (GEOID 0911016400). Comparisons use the median of Connecticut towns with at least 500 people. Weather comes from the nearest NOAA normals station; storm counts use NOAA tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center. Data snapshot 2026-11-12.