Compare towns
Willimantic vs Derby vs Coventry vs Columbia
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).
Coventry has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Derby | Coventry | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,096Highest |
12,487 |
12,326 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
45.4±3.8 10% above CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
| Columbia and Derby 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% |
14.6%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Coventry and Willimantic 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% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
20.2%±3.3 CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Derby 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% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
45%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$108,213±$5k 13% above CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
| Columbia and Coventry 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 |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$330,000±$23k 10% below CT |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Columbia and Coventry 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 |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,232±$330 17% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Derby and Coventry 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 |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$5,284 20% below CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
62.7%±23.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Coventry 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% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
5.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
90.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1966 1 yr older than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
15.6%±4.6 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Coventry 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 | — | #138 of 149 in CT | #41 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Derby School District | Coventry School District | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | — | Derby High School | Coventry High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Lowest |
9.9Highest |
— |
| 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.