Compare towns
Cornwall vs Mansfield vs Willimantic vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cornwall has the highest household income ($129k).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Sharon has the oldest population (median age 59.5).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Cornwall | Mansfield | Willimantic | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,425Lowest |
25,358Highest |
18,096 |
2,723 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 53.9±5.1 31% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
31.3±2.7 24% below CT |
59.5±6Highest 45% above CT |
| Sharon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
7.2%±3.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±2.5 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
37.9%±9.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Sharon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
57.9% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
56.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,864±$34kHighest 35% above CT |
$72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$100,518±$15k 5% above CT |
| Cornwall and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $554,600±$106k 51% above CT |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$590,700±$156kHighest 61% above CT |
| Sharon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,047±$121Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,602±$104 8% above CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$1,750±$1kHighest 18% above CT |
| Sharon and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,792Highest 13% below CT |
$5,727 14% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,484Lowest 33% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±31.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
64%±16.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.6% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
57.3% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
72.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1954 13 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 32.4%±13.6Highest CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
18.7%±6.8 CT: 16% |
| Cornwall and Mansfield 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 | — | #45 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | Cornwall School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | — | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | E. O. Smith High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8 |
— | — |
| 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.