Compare towns
Lisbon vs Mansfield vs Willimantic vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lisbon has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Lisbon | Mansfield | Willimantic | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,211 |
25,358Highest |
18,096 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 44.5±5.2Highest 8% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
31.3±2.7 24% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Lisbon and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±6.4 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2% CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,708±$12k 3% below CT |
$72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
| Sterling and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,700±$26k 14% below CT |
$335,400±$20kHighest 9% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Mansfield and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,044Lowest 39% below CT |
$5,727Highest 14% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Lisbon and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.6% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
57.3% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.4 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #102 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT | — | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Lisbon School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | — | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | E. O. Smith High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8 |
— | — |
| 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.