Compare towns
Willimantic vs Durham 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).
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
Columbia has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
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 | Durham | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,096Highest |
7,208 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
| Columbia and Durham 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% |
16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Durham 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% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Durham 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% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
| Durham and Columbia 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 |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$1,154±$448Highest 22% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Durham and Willimantic 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 |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Durham 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% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% 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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Durham 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 | — | #88 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Regional School District 13 | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | — | Coginchaug Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
— |
| 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.