Compare towns
Monroe vs Willimantic vs Prospect vs Tolland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monroe has the most expensive homes ($503k median).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Prospect has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
Tolland has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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 | Monroe | Willimantic | Prospect | Tolland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
18,096 |
9,458Lowest |
14,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
41.4±2.5 about the CT average |
| Prospect and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±3 CT: 20.2% |
| Monroe and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.3%±2.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.3% CT: 42.5% |
56.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.4%±2.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
$133,264±$16k 39% above CT |
| Monroe and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$365,500±$21k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$1,680±$119 13% above CT |
| Prospect and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$6,504 about the CT average |
$7,403 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Tolland and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
3.2% CT: 10% |
5.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.5% CT: 66.5% |
90.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
20.6%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Tolland and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 149 in CT | — | #50 of 149 in CT | #60 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Monroe School District | — | Regional School District 16 | Tolland School District |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | — | None in town | Tolland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 12.4Lowest |
| 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.