Compare towns
Columbia vs Sandy Hook 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).
Sandy Hook has the most expensive homes ($501k 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 | Sandy Hook | Willimantic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
9,863 |
18,096Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
43.1±3 5% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
| Columbia and Sandy Hook 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% |
22.6%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Sandy Hook 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% |
14.4%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
| Sandy Hook 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 |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
| 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% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% CT: 10% |
5.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook 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 | — | — |
| School district | Columbia School District | — | — |
| High school 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.