Compare towns

Willimantic vs Andover vs Groton

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 affordable homes ($191k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (15.5%).
Groton has the shortest commute (18 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.

MeasureWillimanticAndoverGroton
People
Population
18,096Highest
3,152Lowest
9,490
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%Highest
CT: +0.9%
—
-9.6%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
Median age
31.3±2.7Lowest
24% below CT
51.2±5.4Highest
25% above CT
39±3.7
5% below CT
Kids under 18
20.6%±2.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
16.2%±4.4
CT: 20.2%
15.7%±3.5Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Willimantic and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
11%±1.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
19.2%±5.1Highest
CT: 18.5%
16.2%±2.7
CT: 18.5%
Andover and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24.2%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
46.5%Highest
CT: 42.5%
38.8%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.1%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
8.2%±4.1
CT: 7.1%
4.2%±1.7Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
$134,632±$20kHighest
41% above CT
$79,577±$8k
17% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
$376,500±$36kHighest
about the CT average
$306,600±$26k
16% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,063±$68Lowest
29% below CT
$1,166±$745
22% below CT
$1,250±$98Highest
16% below CT
Groton and Andover 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
$4,411Lowest
34% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.9%±8.1
CT: 52.6%
60.8%±38.4Highest
CT: 52.6%
46.5%±11.7Lowest
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%
18.6%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
93.1%Highest
CT: 66.5%
45.4%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
1977Highest
10 yrs newer than CT
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
12% below CT
25 minHighest
5% below CT
18 minLowest
34% below CT
Work from home
6.2%±2
CT: 16%
15.5%±5.4Highest
CT: 16%
4.8%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #43 of 149 in CT —
School district — Andover School District —
High school in town — None in town —
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.