Compare towns
Vernon vs Suffield 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
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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 | Vernon | Suffield | Willimantic | Tolland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,577Highest |
15,702 |
18,096 |
14,606Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±2.5 4% below CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
41.4±2.5 about the CT average |
| Suffield and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Tolland and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
15.3%±2.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Vernon and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38% CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
56.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
7.4%±2.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,356±$6k 11% below CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$133,264±$16kHighest 39% above CT |
| Tolland and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,500±$11k 25% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$365,500±$21k about the CT average |
| Suffield and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$77 4% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,680±$119Highest 13% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,804 13% below CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$7,403Highest 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.3%±5.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 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 | 13.4% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.2% CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
26 min 3% below CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.4%±2.5 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
20.6%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Tolland and Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | — | #60 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Vernon School District | Suffield School District | — | Tolland School District |
| High school in town | Rockville High School | Suffield High School | — | Tolland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
10.9Lowest |
— | 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.