Compare towns
Columbia vs Monroe 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 most people working from home (21.6%).
Monroe has the most expensive homes ($503k median).
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 | Monroe | Willimantic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
18,949Highest |
18,096 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
| Columbia and Monroe 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% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Monroe 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% |
15.6%±2 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% CT: 42.5% |
57.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
$157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
| Monroe 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 |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$994±$860 33% below CT |
$1,063±$68Highest 29% below CT |
| Willimantic and Monroe 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% CT: 10% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Monroe 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 | #48 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Columbia School District | Monroe School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Masuk High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.