Compare towns
Mansfield vs Putnam vs Willimantic vs Willington
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%).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 41.2).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Willington has the highest household income ($91k).
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 | Putnam | Willimantic | Willington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,358Highest |
7,120 |
18,096 |
5,575Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
41.2±5.1Highest about the CT average |
31.3±2.7 24% below CT |
37.5±7.2 9% below CT |
| Putnam and Willington 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% |
18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
12.8%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Putnam 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% |
17%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±6.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Willington and Putnam 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% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
33.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
14.6%±6.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
$65,511±$7k 32% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$91,114±$12kHighest 5% below CT |
| Willington and Mansfield 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 |
$245,100±$13k 33% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$305,800±$48k 17% below CT |
| Mansfield and Willington 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 |
$1,147±$43 23% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,357±$116 9% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,727Highest 14% below CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$5,419 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
70%±20.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.6% CT: 10% |
11.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
13% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3% CT: 66.5% |
50.7% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
64%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
26 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
10.5%±4.7 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #45 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | — | #104 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | — | — | Willington School District |
| High school 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.