Compare towns
Canterbury vs Killingly vs Willimantic vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canterbury has the most homeowners (88.7%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Canterbury | Killingly | Willimantic | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,124Lowest |
17,867 |
18,096Highest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 48.4±4.5 18% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
| Columbia and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Canterbury and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,198±$6k 8% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
| Columbia and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,200±$12k 9% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Columbia and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,063±$68Highest 29% below CT |
$966±$304 35% below CT |
| Willimantic and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,140 38% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$5,228Highest 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±13 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 14.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Canterbury 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 | #125 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | — | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canterbury School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.