Compare towns
Durham vs Vernon vs Willimantic
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).
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 | Durham | Vernon | Willimantic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,208Lowest |
30,577Highest |
18,096 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
39.4±2.5 4% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±2 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Vernon 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% |
18.6%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Vernon and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
38% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$85,356±$6k 11% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$275,500±$11k 25% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,425±$77Highest 4% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
| Vernon and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$5,804 13% below CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
39.3%±5.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.4% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.2% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
23 min 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
13.4%±2.5 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Durham and Vernon 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 | #107 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Vernon School District | — |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Rockville High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| 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.