Compare towns
Durham vs Mansfield vs Willimantic vs Guilford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Guilford has the most expensive homes ($516k median).
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 | Durham | Mansfield | Willimantic | Guilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,208Lowest |
25,358Highest |
18,096 |
22,108 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
31.3±2.7 24% below CT |
51.1±1.9Highest 24% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
20.8%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Guilford and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.6%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9% CT: 42.5% |
57.9% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
60.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$137,816±$11k 44% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$515,800±$40kHighest 41% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,602±$104 8% above CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,717±$128Highest 15% above CT |
| Guilford and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998 20% above CT |
$5,727 14% below CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$8,744Highest 32% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
47.4%±9 CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 3.4% CT: 10% |
21.6% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
57.3% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
26 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
21.7%±3.3 CT: 16% |
| Mansfield and Guilford 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT | — | #15 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | — | Guilford School District |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | E. O. Smith High School | — | Guilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
11.8Highest |
— | 11.8Highest |
| 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.