Compare towns
Avon vs Mansfield vs Willimantic vs Ridgefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Avon has the most people working from home (33.7%).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Ridgefield has the most expensive homes ($836k median).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Avon | Mansfield | Willimantic | Ridgefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,946 |
25,358Highest |
18,096Lowest |
25,109 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 44.3±1.7 8% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
31.3±2.7 24% below CT |
45.1±1.4Highest 10% above CT |
| Ridgefield and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.7 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
24.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Ridgefield and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Avon and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 73.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
57.9% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $154,058±$13k 61% above CT |
$72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$179,219±$12kHighest 87% above CT |
| Ridgefield and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $479,700±$20k 31% above CT |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,857±$151 25% above CT |
$1,602±$104 8% above CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$2,026±$200Highest 36% above CT |
| Ridgefield and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,371 41% above CT |
$5,727 14% below CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.6%±11.9 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
53.3%±12Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% CT: 10% |
21.6% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
3.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
57.3% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
33 minHighest 25% above CT |
| Work from home | 33.7%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
29.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
| Avon and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT | — | #4 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Avon School District · Capitol Region Education Council | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | — | Ridgefield School District |
| High school in town | Avon High School | E. O. Smith High School | — | Ridgefield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
11.8Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.