Compare towns
Willimantic vs Blackstone vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Blackstone has the most expensive homes ($404k median).
Columbia has the highest household income ($127k).
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 | Blackstone | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,096Highest |
9,255 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7Lowest 20% below U.S. |
43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
51.3±10.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Columbia and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Blackstone and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Columbia and Blackstone 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $45,962±$7kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$94,191±$21k 17% above U.S. |
$127,000±$30kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Columbia and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,900±$17kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$404,400±$34kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$361,500±$16k 9% above U.S. |
| Blackstone 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 25% below U.S. |
$1,189±$85Highest 16% below U.S. |
$966±$304Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Blackstone and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,678Lowest 50% above U.S. |
$5,703Highest 83% above U.S. |
$5,228 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Columbia and Blackstone 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 | — | #207 of 282 in MA | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Blackstone-Millville | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Millville RHS | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.