Compare towns

Bethany vs Durham vs Willimantic

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).

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.

MeasureBethanyDurhamWillimantic
People
Population
5,288Lowest
7,208
18,096Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+2.3%
CT: +0.9%
Median age
42.5±2.9
3% above CT
45.5±2.8Highest
11% above CT
31.3±2.7Lowest
24% below CT
Durham and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.3%±5.9
CT: 20.2%
16.4%±3.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±2.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
Willimantic and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.2%±4.2
CT: 18.5%
17.4%±3.7Highest
CT: 18.5%
11%±1.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Durham and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
58%Highest
CT: 42.5%
47.9%
CT: 42.5%
24.2%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.8%±3.7
CT: 7.1%
3.6%±1.5Lowest
CT: 7.1%
19.1%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$166,236±$20kHighest
74% above CT
$158,857±$7k
66% above CT
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
Bethany and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$418,000±$42k
14% above CT
$424,800±$23kHighest
16% above CT
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
Durham and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,154±$448Highest
22% below CT
$1,063±$68Lowest
29% below CT
Durham and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,313Highest
25% above CT
$7,998
20% above CT
$4,678Lowest
30% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
CT: 52.6%
44.9%±28.4
CT: 52.6%
55.9%±8.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
Willimantic and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
3.4%
CT: 10%
23.4%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
93.2%
CT: 66.5%
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970
3 yrs newer than CT
1976Highest
9 yrs newer than CT
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
21% above CT
23 minLowest
13% below CT
23 min
12% below CT
Work from home
12%±5.2
CT: 16%
20.5%±6.4Highest
CT: 16%
6.2%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
Durham and Bethany 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 #30 of 149 in CT #88 of 149 in CT —
School district Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 Regional School District 13 —
High school in town None in town Coginchaug Regional High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.9
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.