Compare towns
Willimantic vs Bethlehem vs Columbia 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).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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.
| Measure | Willimantic | Bethlehem | Columbia | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,096Highest |
3,423Lowest |
5,300 |
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 |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
39±3.7 5% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Columbia 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% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Bethlehem 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% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Bethlehem 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% |
39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
38.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$79,577±$8k 17% below CT |
| Columbia and Bethlehem 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 |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
$306,600±$26k 16% below CT |
| Bethlehem 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 |
$1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,250±$98Highest 16% below CT |
| Groton and Bethlehem 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 |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
$4,411Lowest 34% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
46.5%±11.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem 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% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
6.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
18.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
45.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
18 minLowest 34% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
4.8%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Bethlehem 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 | — | #82 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | — | Regional School District 14 | Columbia School District | — |
| High school 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.