Compare towns
Hampton vs Sterling vs Willimantic
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Hampton | Sterling | Willimantic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,647Lowest |
3,629 |
18,096Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,167±$19kHighest 14% above CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
| Hampton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,800±$27kHighest 19% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
| Hampton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,285±$288Highest 14% below CT |
— | $1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
| Hampton and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$4,678Highest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 13 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Hampton and Sterling 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 | — | #119 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Hampton School District | Sterling School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.


