Compare towns
Willimantic vs Brookfield vs Stepney vs Mansfield
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).
Brookfield has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Stepney has the most homeowners (96.4%).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Brookfield | Stepney | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,096 |
17,706 |
3,979Lowest |
25,358Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7 24% below CT |
44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
| Stepney and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
22.7%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±5.6 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield and Stepney 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% |
18.8%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Brookfield and Stepney 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% |
58.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
54.2% CT: 42.5% |
57.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$148,360±$11k 55% above CT |
$153,966±$16kHighest 61% above CT |
$72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
| Stepney and Brookfield 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 |
$479,700±$24kHighest 31% above CT |
$475,800±$53k 30% above CT |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
| Brookfield and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,892±$183 27% above CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$1,602±$104 8% above CT |
| Stepney and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$7,594 14% above CT |
$9,309Highest 40% above CT |
$5,727 14% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield and Stepney 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% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
57.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #67 of 149 in CT | — | #45 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Brookfield School District | — | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District |
| High school in town | — | Brookfield High School | — | E. O. Smith High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
— | 11.8Lowest |
| 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.