Compare towns

Canterbury vs Willimantic

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).

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.

MeasureCanterburyWillimantic
People
Population
5,124Lowest
18,096Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.3%
CT: +0.9%
Median age
48.4±4.5Highest
18% above CT
31.3±2.7Lowest
24% below CT
Kids under 18
15%±3.5Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±2.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
Willimantic and Canterbury 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%
11%±1.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26.2%Highest
CT: 42.5%
24.2%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±2Lowest
CT: 7.1%
19.1%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$103,198±$6kHighest
8% above CT
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$334,200±$12kHighest
9% below CT
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$924±$367Lowest
38% below CT
$1,063±$68Highest
29% below CT
Willimantic and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,140Lowest
38% below CT
$4,678Highest
30% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40%±13Lowest
CT: 52.6%
55.9%±8.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
Willimantic and Canterbury 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%
23.4%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
8 yrs newer than CT
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above CT
23 minLowest
12% below CT
Work from home
14.7%±5.4Highest
CT: 16%
6.2%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #125 of 149 in CT —
School district Canterbury School District —
High school in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.