Compare towns
Groton vs Hamden vs Willimantic
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Groton has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Hamden has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
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 | Groton | Hamden | Willimantic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,490Lowest |
61,045Highest |
18,096 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.6%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 39±3.7Highest 5% below CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
| Groton and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Hamden and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.8% CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,577±$8k 17% below CT |
$98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $306,600±$26kHighest 16% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
| Groton and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,250±$98 16% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,411Lowest 34% below CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±11.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.6% CT: 10% |
9.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.4% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 34% below CT |
22 min 18% below CT |
23 minHighest 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 4.8%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #122 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | — |
| High school in town | — | Hamden High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.