Compare towns
Columbia vs Hebron vs Killingly vs Willimantic
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Columbia has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
Hebron has the most people working from home (27.2%).
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 | Columbia | Hebron | Killingly | Willimantic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
9,157 |
17,867 |
18,096Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
45.1±2.7 10% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
| Columbia and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.8%±3.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Hebron and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% CT: 42.5% |
52.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
$142,500±$23kHighest 49% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
| Hebron and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$16k about the CT average |
$385,800±$15kHighest 5% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
| Hebron and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,635±$241Highest 10% above CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228 21% below CT |
$8,263Highest 24% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
61.5%±28.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Hebron and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% CT: 10% |
4.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% CT: 66.5% |
88.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 17 yrs newer than CT |
1986Highest 19 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6 CT: 16% |
27.2%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Hebron and Columbia 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 | #114 of 149 in CT | #28 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Columbia School District | Hebron School District · Regional School District 08 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — |
| High school in town | None in town | RHAM High School | Killingly High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.