Compare towns

Prospect vs Vernon vs Willimantic

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Prospect has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Vernon has the most people working from home (13.4%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).

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.

MeasureProspectVernonWillimantic
People
Population
9,458Lowest
30,577Highest
18,096
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+2.3%
CT: +0.9%
Median age
46.8±3.9Highest
14% above CT
39.4±2.5
4% below CT
31.3±2.7Lowest
24% below CT
Kids under 18
21.4%±4.1Highest
CT: 20.2%
16.9%±2Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±2.5
CT: 20.2%
Prospect and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.5%±4.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
18.6%±1.7
CT: 18.5%
11%±1.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Prospect and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.3%Highest
CT: 42.5%
38%
CT: 42.5%
24.2%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
7.8%±1.2
CT: 7.1%
19.1%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$126,394±$18kHighest
32% above CT
$85,356±$6k
11% below CT
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$355,400±$21kHighest
3% below CT
$275,500±$11k
25% below CT
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,800±$433Highest
21% above CT
$1,425±$77
4% below CT
$1,063±$68Lowest
29% below CT
Prospect and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,504Highest
about the CT average
$5,804
13% below CT
$4,678Lowest
30% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.3%±31.8
CT: 52.6%
39.3%±5.7Lowest
CT: 52.6%
55.9%±8.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
Willimantic and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.2%Lowest
CT: 10%
13.4%
CT: 10%
23.4%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.5%Highest
CT: 66.5%
53.2%
CT: 66.5%
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
7 yrs newer than CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
4% above CT
27 min
about the CT average
23 minLowest
12% below CT
Work from home
10.1%±3.2
CT: 16%
13.4%±2.5Highest
CT: 16%
6.2%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
Vernon and Prospect 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 #50 of 149 in CT #107 of 149 in CT —
School district Regional School District 16 Vernon School District —
High school in town None in town Rockville High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.1
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.