Compare towns
Columbia vs Suffield vs Willimantic vs Canterbury
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%).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Canterbury has the most homeowners (88.7%).
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.
| Measure | Columbia | Suffield | Willimantic | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
15,702 |
18,096Highest |
5,124Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
48.4±4.5 18% above CT |
| Columbia and Canterbury 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% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
15%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Canterbury and Columbia 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% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
26.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$103,198±$6k 8% above CT |
| Columbia and Suffield 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 |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$334,200±$12k 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $966±$304 35% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228 21% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,140Lowest 38% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
40%±13 CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
4.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88.7%Highest 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 |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
14.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | — | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | Suffield School District | — | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— | — |
| 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.