Compare towns
Willimantic vs Bethlehem vs Vernon
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).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
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 | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,096 |
3,423Lowest |
30,577Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
39.4±2.5 4% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±2 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Vernon 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%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Vernon 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% |
38% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$85,356±$6k 11% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$275,500±$11k 25% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,425±$77Highest 4% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$5,804 13% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.3%±5.7Lowest 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%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
13.4%±2.5 CT: 16% |
| Bethlehem and Vernon 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 | #107 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Regional School District 14 | Vernon School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Rockville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
| 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.