Town · Connecticut
Columbia, Connecticut
Columbia, town, in Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut. Columbia had 5,352 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.4% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 5,272 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 5,300 (±44). GEOID 0911016400.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
5,352
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 5,272 · ACS 2020-2024: 5,300 ±44
Median household income
$127,000
±$29,672 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $95,781
Median home value
$361,500
±$16,185 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $366,900
Median gross rent
$966
±$304 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $1,488
Where is Columbia and what county is it in?
Columbia is a town in Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut. It covers 21.4 square miles of land, 247 residents per square mile in 2020.
Columbia is in the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Columbia is the same area as Census Tract 8601 of Capitol Planning Region: the tract's figures are Columbia's own.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Columbia, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 5,352 people lived in Columbia on July 1, 2025, up 1.4% since 2020, slower than Connecticut (+2.2%). The 2020 Census counted 5,272 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 5,300 (±44).
| Measure | Columbia | Capitol Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,300±44 | 977,290 | – |
| Households | 2,112±233 | 391,113 | – |
| Average household size | 2.49±0.28 | 2.41 | – |
| Housing units | 2,352±267 | 416,559 | – |
Columbia's population since 2000
From 4,971 in 2000 to 5,352 in 2025: up 7.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Columbia as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Columbia?
The median resident of Columbia is 51.3 years old; 13.7% are under 18 and 24.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 85.3%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 5.7%.
| Measure | Columbia | Capitol Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.3±10.3 | 40.0 | – |
| Under 18 years | 13.7%±3.2 pts | 20.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 24.9%±3.4 pts | 18.0% | – |
| Male | 54.8%±6.0 pts | 49.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.4%±3.2 pts | 17.7% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 85.3%±5.2 pts | 60.0% | – |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.8%±1.6 pts | 11.5% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.8 pts | 6.0% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.8 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.8 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.7%±2.8 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.9%±3.0 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.9%±2.0 pts | 15.2% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.3%±2.5 pts | 24.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 11.1%±3.7 pts | 4.5% | – |
| With a disability | 20.1%±9.7 pts | 12.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 0.5%±0.7 pts | 4.5% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 88.1%±11.7 pts | 91.4% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 34.6%±7.8 pts | 42.1% | – |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 15.5%±4.6 pts | 18.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 94.6%±3.8 pts | 89.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.0%±2.7 pts | 2.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Columbia earn?
Half of Columbia's 2,112 households earn less than $127,000 a year (±$29,672), against $93,394 in Capitol Planning Region and $95,781 in Connecticut.
| Measure | Columbia | Capitol Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $127,000±$29,672 | $93,394 | – |
| Mean household income | $140,119±$24,443 | $125,847 | – |
| Per capita income | $56,435±$7,649 | $51,016 | – |
| People below the poverty line | 6.1%±4.2 pts | 10.3% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 0.0%±5.8 pts | 13.0% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 17.7%±15.2 pts | 13.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.7%±2.0 pts | 95.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 97.4%±1.9 pts | 91.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Columbia?
Owners occupy 83.3% of Columbia's occupied homes and renters 16.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $361,500 by its owner (±$16,185). The median renter pays $966 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Columbia | Capitol Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $361,500±$16,185 | $323,700 | – |
| Median gross rent | $966±$304 | $1,411 | – |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 17.6%±36.0 pts | 43.2% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,301±$126 | $2,284 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 83.3%±15.2 pts | 65.7% | – |
| Renter-occupied homes | 16.7%±15.2 pts | 34.3% | – |
| Housing units | 2,352±267 | 416,559 | – |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±2.4 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 16.4%±29.9 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 84.7%±14.4 pts | 56.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0%±1.8 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.6%±1.1 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.5%±4.3 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 10.3%±6.5 pts | 18.2% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 1.6%±1.5 pts | 9.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Columbia building?
Builders took permits for 3 new housing units in Columbia in 2025 (3 in single-family houses), 0.6 per 1,000 residents against 2.0 across Connecticut.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Columbia work and get to work?
71.5% of Columbia's workers drive alone and 21.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 32.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.0%.
| Measure | Columbia | Capitol Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 58.1%±8.5 pts | 65.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.0%±3.4 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 71.5%±7.9 pts | 69.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.1%±4.5 pts | 7.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±1.7 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Walked | 0.7%±1.2 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 21.6%±5.8 pts | 16.9% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 32.0 min±3.6 | 23.6 min | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Columbia?
1 census tract lies mostly in Columbia (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 8601Capitol Planning Region | 5,300 | $127,000 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Columbia) · Census block assignment files
How does Columbia compare with other places in Connecticut?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Columbia is the 2,180th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 100th-most populous of 142 in Connecticut.
Columbia ranks 95th of 294 places in Connecticut with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 100th | 142 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 117th | 167 |
| Residents per square mile | 252nd | 303 |
| Median household income | 95th | 294 |
| Per capita income | 161st | 303 |
| Median home value | 165th | 300 |
| Median gross rent | 263rd | 266 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 222nd | 297 |
| Median age | 53rd | 301 |
| Owner-occupied share | 119th | 300 |
| Work from home | 89th | 279 |
| Travel time to work | 60th | 302 |
Columbia's figures with every place in Connecticut (CSV)
Every place in Connecticut, sortable · Compare Columbia with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Columbia?
23 of the 57 figures for Columbia on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Columbia are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.