What stands out worked out from the figures below

New London has the most people working from home (11.6%).

Willimantic has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).

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	New London	Willimantic
People
Population	27,625Highest	18,096Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Lowest CT: +0.9%	+2.3%Highest CT: +0.9%
Median age	34.7±2.1Highest 16% below CT	31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT
	New London and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.6%±2.5Lowest CT: 20.2%	20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2%
	Willimantic and New London are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15%±1.8Highest CT: 18.5%	11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.5%Highest CT: 42.5%	24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.3%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1%	19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,098±$5kHighest 38% below CT	$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$253,300±$23kHighest 31% below CT	$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,340±$51Highest 10% below CT	$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,977Highest 25% below CT	$4,678Lowest 30% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.2%±5.3Lowest CT: 52.6%	55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6%
	Willimantic and New London are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	21.6%Lowest CT: 10%	23.4%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	36.1%Highest CT: 66.5%	34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1945Lowest 22 yrs older than CT	1953Highest 14 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 28% below CT	23 minHighest 12% below CT
Work from home	11.6%±2.3Highest CT: 16%	6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#147 of 149 in CT	—
School district	Interdistrict School for Arts and Comm District · New London School District	—
High school in town	New London High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.