Compare towns
Columbia vs Sutton vs Hebron vs Willimantic
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Columbia has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Hebron has the most people working from home (27.2%).
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 | Sutton | Hebron | Willimantic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
9,452 |
9,157 |
18,096Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
31.3±2.7Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Columbia and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hebron 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
11%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Columbia and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $127,000±$30k 57% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$142,500±$23k 77% above U.S. |
$45,962±$7kLowest 43% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$385,800±$15k 16% above U.S. |
$190,900±$17kLowest 43% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $966±$304Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,635±$241Highest 16% above U.S. |
$1,063±$68 25% below U.S. |
| Hebron and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228 68% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$8,263Highest 165% above U.S. |
$4,678Lowest 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.5%±28.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hebron and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
23.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hebron and Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #28 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Columbia School District | Sutton | Hebron School District · Regional School District 08 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | RHAM High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.