Compare towns
Mansfield vs Middletown 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
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
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 | Middletown | Suffield | Willimantic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,358 |
47,958Highest |
15,702Lowest |
18,096 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
31.3±2.7 24% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Suffield 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% |
16.5%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Suffield and Middletown 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% |
40.2% CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
$79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,727 14% below CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 21.6% CT: 10% |
12% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3% CT: 66.5% |
52.9% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
26 minHighest 3% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #45 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Suffield School District | — |
| High school in town | E. O. Smith High School | Middletown High School | Suffield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
11.8Highest |
10.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.