Compare towns
Vernon vs Willimantic vs Killingly vs West Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vernon has the most people working from home (13.4%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Killingly has the most homeowners (71.6%).
West Haven has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Willimantic | Killingly | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,577 |
18,096 |
17,867Lowest |
55,351Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.5 4% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
39.5±3Highest 4% below CT |
35.8±1.5 13% below CT |
| Killingly and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,356±$6kHighest 11% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$74,382±$5k 22% below CT |
| Vernon and Killingly 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 |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$291,700±$9kHighest 20% below CT |
| West Haven and Killingly 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 |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,442±$43Highest 3% below CT |
| West Haven and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,804 13% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,941Highest 4% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.3%±5.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.4% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
11.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
14.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.2% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT |
1959 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
23 min 12% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.4%±2.5Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4 CT: 16% |
| Vernon and Killingly 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 | — | #136 of 149 in CT | #120 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Vernon School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | New Haven School District · West Haven School District |
| High school in town | Rockville High School | — | Killingly High School | West Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | 11.1Lowest |
15.6Highest |
| 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.