What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monson has the most people working from home (19.6%).

Willimantic has the most kids (36.5% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Monson	Willimantic
People
Population	596Highest	200Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.2% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	47.4±13.1Highest 6% above ME	38.5±11.9Lowest 14% below ME
	Monson and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.3%±5.8Lowest ME: 18.1%	36.5%±11.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Willimantic and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.4%±10.7Highest ME: 22.4%	25.5%±16.2Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Monson and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18%Highest ME: 36.2%	15.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.5%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%	4%±6.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	Willimantic and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,017±$4kLowest 25% below ME	$63,472±$52kHighest 15% below ME
	Willimantic and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$178,100±$71kHighest 40% below ME	$131,700±$21kLowest 56% below ME
	Monson and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,664Highest 45% below ME	$1,285Lowest 58% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.5%±59.6 ME: 48.4%	—
Below poverty line	14.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%	32.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	92.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest same as ME	1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 23% above ME	23 minLowest 6% below ME
Work from home	19.6%±17.7Highest ME: 15.9%	13.8%±13.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Monson and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.