Columbia

Coos CountyNorth CountryPopulation: 659

Overview

Columbia is a small North Country town in Coos County along the Connecticut River, near Colebrook. The town's forested hills and farmland reflect the sparse, rural character typical of the far North Country.

The Connecticut River offers fishing and paddling, while Columbia's proximity to Colebrook provides access to regional services and shopping. The town's small population keeps development minimal.

Housing in Columbia remains among the most affordable in the state, drawing outdoor enthusiasts and value-seekers who want remote, rural living.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • River access
  • Very affordable
  • Rural character
  • Near Colebrook

Cons

  • Very remote
  • Limited jobs
  • Harsh winters

Cost of Owning Here

Official property tax rates published by the NH Department of Revenue Administration, plus estimated tax bills for Columbia.

2025 Local Tax Rate
$21.71
per $1,000 assessed value
2025 Effective (Equalized) Rate
$8.68
Equalization ratio: 40%
Municipal
$4.33
Local School
$10.05
State Education
$2.02
County
$5.31

Why "Effective Rate" is a better comparison

New Hampshire towns do not all assess property at the same percentage of market value. The state publishes an annual equalization ratio for every municipality showing how close local assessments are to full market value. A town that assesses homes at only 64% of market value will show an artificially high tax rate compared to a town that assesses at 100%. Multiplying the local rate by the equalization ratio produces an effective (equalized) rate that can be fairly compared across any two towns in the state.

YearTotal RateEffective RateMunicipalLocal SchoolState Ed.County
2025$21.71$8.68$4.33$10.05$2.02$5.31

Source: NH DRA

Example Tax Bills for 2025

Home ValueEstimated Annual TaxEstimated Monthly
$250,000$5,428$452
$350,000$7,599$633
$500,000$10,855$905
$750,000$16,283$1,357
$1,000,000$21,710$1,809

Estimates calculated using the 2025 local tax rate of $21.71 per $1,000 of assessed value. Actual tax bills depend on your property's specific assessed value and any exemptions or credits you may qualify for.

Climate & Environment

Summer Avg High
74°F
Winter Avg High
29.3°F
Annual Snowfall
95.3 in
Annual Rainfall
47.2 in
Sunny Days/Year
232
Data source: Open-Meteo / ERA5Updated 7/3/2026

Transportation & Commute

Commute to Major Cities

Boston
203 mi
~256 min drive
Manchester
153 mi
~198 min drive
Portsmouth
175 mi
~236 min drive
Concord
136 mi
~178 min drive
Data source: OpenRouteService / OpenStreetMapUpdated 7/3/2026

Recreation & Outdoors

Outdoor Recreation Score
45/100
Trail Miles
88.7
0
Boat Launches
2
00

Winter & Camping

Snowmobile Trails:49 miles
XC Ski Trails:0 miles
0

Economy & Demographics

💰Income

Median Household Income
$51,406
Per Capita Income
$34,741
Median Family Income
$61,563

🏠Housing Costs

Median Home Value
$156,800
Median Rent
$806/mo
Homeownership Rate
89.54%

💼Employment

Unemployment Rate
4.44%
In Labor Force
338

🎓Education

Bachelor's Degree or Higher
11.24%
Total with Degree
56

👥Demographics

Median Age
48.6 years
Avg Household Size
2.21 people
Data source: Census ACS 2022 (5-Year)Census Data Year: 2022Updated 7/3/2026

Compare Columbia with Other Towns

See how Columbia stacks up against other NH communities.