Compare towns
Sandy Hook vs Vernon vs Willimantic vs Tolland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandy Hook has the most expensive homes ($501k median).
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.
| Measure | Sandy Hook | Vernon | Willimantic | Tolland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,863Lowest |
30,577Highest |
18,096 |
14,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 43.1±3Highest 5% above CT |
39.4±2.5 4% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
41.4±2.5 about the CT average |
| Sandy Hook and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
15.3%±2.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Vernon and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
38% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
56.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
7.4%±2.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$85,356±$6k 11% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$133,264±$16k 39% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$275,500±$11k 25% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$365,500±$21k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
$1,425±$77 4% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,680±$119 13% above CT |
| Sandy Hook 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 |
$5,804 13% below CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$7,403 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
39.3%±5.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 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 | 5.6% CT: 10% |
13.4% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.2% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
13.4%±2.5 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
20.6%±3.6 CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook and Tolland 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 | — | #107 of 149 in CT | — | #60 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Vernon School District | — | Tolland School District |
| High school in town | — | Rockville High School | — | Tolland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.4Highest |
| 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.