Compare towns
Groton vs Sandy Hook vs Suffield 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).
Sandy Hook has the highest household income ($161k).
Suffield has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Sandy Hook | Suffield | Willimantic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,490Lowest |
9,863 |
15,702 |
18,096Highest |
| 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 |
43.1±3 5% above CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
| Suffield and Sandy Hook 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% |
22.6%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Sandy Hook 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% |
14.4%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Suffield 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% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,577±$8k 17% below CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $306,600±$26k 16% below CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,250±$98 16% below CT |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
| Sandy Hook and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,411Lowest 34% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$4,678 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±11.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.6% CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.4% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 34% below CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 4.8%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook and Suffield 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 | — | — | #57 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | — | — | Suffield School District | — |
| High school in town | — | — | Suffield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.9 |
— |
| 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.