Compare towns
Groton vs Prospect vs Willimantic vs Putnam
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).
Prospect has the highest household income ($126k).
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 | Prospect | Willimantic | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,490 |
9,458 |
18,096Highest |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.6%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 39±3.7 5% below CT |
46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Prospect and Putnam 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% |
21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect and Willimantic 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% |
24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect and Putnam 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% |
40.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,577±$8k 17% below CT |
$126,394±$18kHighest 32% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $306,600±$26k 16% below CT |
$355,400±$21kHighest 3% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,250±$98 16% below CT |
$1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,411 34% below CT |
$6,504Highest about the CT average |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±11.7 CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.6% CT: 10% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.4% CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 34% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 4.8%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Prospect and Putnam 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 | — | #50 of 149 in CT | — | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Regional School District 16 | — | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.