Compare towns
Columbia vs Prospect 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%).
Prospect has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Prospect | Willimantic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
9,458 |
18,096Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
46.8±3.9 14% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
| Columbia and Prospect 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% |
21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect 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% |
24.5%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Prospect 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% |
40.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
| Columbia and Prospect 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 |
$355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
| Columbia and Prospect 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 |
$1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228 21% below CT |
$6,504Highest about the CT average |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% CT: 10% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #114 of 149 in CT | #50 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Columbia School District | Regional School District 16 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.