Compare towns
Mansfield vs Thomaston vs Willimantic vs Manchester
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%).
Thomaston has the most homeowners (77.7%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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 | Thomaston | Willimantic | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,358 |
7,492Lowest |
18,096 |
59,635Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
41.5±7.7Highest about the CT average |
31.3±2.7 24% below CT |
37±1.2 10% below CT |
| Thomaston and Manchester 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% |
20.5%±5.2 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Thomaston 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% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Thomaston and Manchester 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% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
$103,218±$15kHighest 8% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
| Thomaston and Manchester 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 |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$247,100±$6k 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$1,519±$66 about the CT average |
| Mansfield and Manchester 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 |
$5,915Highest 11% below CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$5,652 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.6% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3% CT: 66.5% |
77.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
56.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1962 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
23 min 12% below CT |
23 min 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #45 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT | — | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Thomaston School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | E. O. Smith High School | Thomaston High School | — | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.