About Columbia
What it's like to live here
Columbia is a Tolland County town of about 5,300 people on 22 square miles of woods, fields and lakefront between Hebron and Willimantic. Routes 6, 66 and 87 run through town, putting downtown Willimantic about 10 minutes away, UConn in Storrs about 20 and downtown Hartford about 35. The town beach, Recreation Park and the Green are the center of town life.
Columbia was the north parish of Lebanon, known as Lebanon's Crank, until it was incorporated in 1804 and named for the patriotic symbol Columbia. In 1754 the Rev. Eleazar Wheelock opened Moor's Charity School here to educate Native American students, and in 1769 he moved it to Hanover, New Hampshire, where it became Dartmouth College. The schoolhouse still stands on the Columbia Green, part of a historic district listed on the National Register in 1990 that also includes the Wheelock house and the Landmark Inn, where French officers stayed during the Revolution.
Our Colchester office at 392 South Main Street is about 12 miles south, roughly 20 minutes. Our agents live and sell here.
Columbia Highlights
- Columbia Lake and the town beach on Lake Road
- Moor's Charity School on the Green, the forerunner of Dartmouth College
- The Hop River and Air Line rail trails along the town's borders
- About 20 minutes to UConn in Storrs
Columbia market at a glance
Columbia real estate market
Year to date through August 2026, single-family homes in Columbia sold for a median of $420,000, closed at a median of 104.4% of list price, and spent a median of 21 days on the market. At the end of August, 4 single-family homes were for sale (0.7 months of supply).
Written figures: SmartMLS Local Market Update, single-family, year to date through August 2026. Charts update automatically from SmartMLS, include all property types, and show rolling 12-month data.
Neighborhoods
Getting to know Columbia
Columbia Green
The town center where Routes 87 and 66 meet, with Town Hall, Yeomans Hall, the Saxton B. Little Free Library, Moor's Charity School and Horace W. Porter School.
Columbia Lake
The lakefront neighborhoods off Lake Road, home to the town beach at 18 Lake Road and the Columbia Lake Association, founded in 1935.
Hop River
The northern edge of town along the Hop River and the Hop River State Park Trail, part of the East Coast Greenway.
Recreation Park and Utley Hill
Columbia Recreation Park on Hennequin Road, whose trails connect to Joshua's Trust's 118-acre Utley Hill Preserve in the Columbia Lake watershed.
Mono Pond
State recreation land with a boat launch off Hunt Road and a one-mile loop trail along the shore.
Szedga Farm
Farmland the town preserved in 2008, with 1.8 miles of hiking trails off Szedga Road.
Buying or selling
Why Columbia?
Why buy in Columbia
- Downtown Willimantic is about 10 minutes away, UConn in Storrs about 20 and downtown Hartford about 35
- Horace W. Porter School (pre-K to 8) in town, with a choice of Bolton High School, E.O. Smith High School or Windham Technical High School for grades 9 to 12
- Swimming, boating and summer concerts at Columbia Lake and the town beach
- Trails at Mono Pond, Szedga Farm and Utley Hill Preserve, plus the Hop River and Air Line rail trails
- The Columbia Green, with Moor's Charity School, the Saxton B. Little Free Library and the Town Hall campus
Why sell in Columbia now
- Single-family homes are selling in a median of 21 days (year to date through August 2026)
- Sellers are getting a median of 104.4% of list price
- The single-family median sale price is $420,000 year to date
- About 0.7 months of supply, still a seller's market
Questions
Columbia real estate FAQ
What is the median home price in Columbia, CT?
For single-family homes, $420,000 year to date through August 2026, according to the SmartMLS Local Market Update. The live charts above show the latest trend.
What is the property tax rate in Columbia?
The mill rate for fiscal year 2026-27 is 30.75 for real estate, per the Town of Columbia. That is $30.75 in tax per $1,000 of assessed value, and Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value.
How far is Columbia from Willimantic, Storrs and Hartford?
Downtown Willimantic is about 5 miles from Columbia Town Hall, roughly 10 minutes. UConn in Storrs is about 11 miles, around 20 minutes, and downtown Hartford is about 24 miles, roughly 35 minutes.
What schools serve Columbia?
Columbia has its own pre-K to 8 school, Horace W. Porter School on Schoolhouse Road. For grades 9 to 12, Columbia's designated high schools are Bolton High School, E.O. Smith High School in Storrs and Windham Technical High School.
Does Carl Guild & Associates have an office near Columbia?
Yes. Our Colchester office at 392 South Main Street is about 12 miles south of Columbia, and our headquarters is at 40 West High Street in East Hampton. Call 860-474-3500.
Currently on the market
Homes for sale in Columbia
Search the live MLS feed and filter to Columbia to see everything available right now.
Thinking about Columbia?
Tell us what you're looking for and we'll send you Columbia listings the day they hit the market, plus the ones we hear about first.