Compare towns
Willimantic vs Andover vs Brooklyn vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Andover has the most homeowners (93.1%).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Willimantic | Andover | Brooklyn | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,096Highest |
3,152Lowest |
8,517 |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
51.2±5.4 25% above CT |
45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
| Columbia and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.2%±5.1 CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2% CT: 42.5% |
46.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
8.2%±4.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$134,632±$20kHighest 41% above CT |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
| Andover and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$376,500±$36kHighest about the CT average |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
| Andover and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$1,166±$745Highest 22% below CT |
$1,125±$98 24% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Andover and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,678 30% below CT |
$6,554Highest about the CT average |
$4,538Lowest 32% below CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
60.8%±38.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Andover and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
2.3% CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.7% CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
15.5%±5.4 CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Andover 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 | — | #43 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Andover School District | Brooklyn School District | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.