Compare towns

Columbia vs Killingly vs Willimantic vs Coventry

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 most people working from home (21.6%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Coventry has the most homeowners (90.7%).

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.

MeasureColumbiaKillinglyWillimanticCoventry
People
Population
5,300Lowest
17,867
18,096Highest
12,326
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+2.3%
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
51.3±10.3Highest
25% above CT
39.5±3
4% below CT
31.3±2.7Lowest
24% below CT
45.4±3.8
10% above CT
Columbia and Coventry 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%
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±2.5
CT: 20.2%
20.9%±3.2Highest
CT: 20.2%
Coventry 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%
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
11%±1.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
20.2%±3.3
CT: 18.5%
Columbia and Coventry 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%
22.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
24.2%
CT: 42.5%
45%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.5
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
19.1%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.3%±2Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$127,000±$30kHighest
33% above CT
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
$108,213±$5k
13% above CT
Columbia and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$361,500±$16kHighest
about the CT average
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
$330,000±$23k
10% below CT
Columbia and Coventry 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
$1,044±$141
30% below CT
$1,063±$68
29% below CT
$1,232±$330Highest
17% below CT
Coventry and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,228
21% below CT
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$4,678
30% below CT
$5,284Highest
20% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
17.6%±16.2Lowest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
55.9%±8.1
CT: 52.6%
62.7%±23.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
Coventry 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%
11.4%
CT: 10%
23.4%Highest
CT: 10%
5.1%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.3%
CT: 66.5%
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
90.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
17 yrs newer than CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
1966
1 yr older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
21% above CT
28 min
5% above CT
23 minLowest
12% below CT
27 min
about the CT average
Work from home
21.6%±6Highest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
6.2%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
15.6%±4.6
CT: 16%
Columbia and Coventry 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 #136 of 149 in CT — #41 of 149 in CT
School district Columbia School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS — Coventry School District
High school in town None in town Killingly High School — Coventry High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Highest
—
9.9Lowest
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.