Compare towns
Mansfield vs Ashford vs Willimantic vs Hamden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Ashford has the highest household income ($122k).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Hamden has the oldest population (median age 38.7).
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 | Mansfield | Ashford | Willimantic | Hamden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,358 |
4,226Lowest |
18,096 |
61,045Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
31.3±2.7 24% below CT |
38.7±0.9Highest 6% below CT |
| Hamden and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Ashford and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.3% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
| Ashford and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,400±$20kHighest 9% below CT |
$334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
| Mansfield and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,602±$104 8% above CT |
$1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
| Hamden and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,727 14% below CT |
$6,982 5% above CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 21.6% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3% CT: 66.5% |
76.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
22 min 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #45 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT | — | #122 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Ashford School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services |
| High school in town | E. O. Smith High School | None in town | — | Hamden High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
— | — | 13.5Highest |
| 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.