Compare towns
Bethany vs Prospect 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).
Prospect has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
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.
| Measure | Bethany | Prospect | Willimantic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
9,458 |
18,096Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
| Prospect and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect and Willimantic 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% |
24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect 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% |
40.3% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
| Bethany and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$6,504 about the CT average |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Prospect 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% |
3.2% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
93.5% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Highest CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bethany and Prospect 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 | #50 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 16 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.