Compare towns
Willimantic vs Hamden 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).
Hamden has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Vernon has the oldest population (median age 39.4).
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 | Hamden | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,096Lowest |
61,045Highest |
30,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
39.4±2.5Highest 4% below CT |
| Vernon and Hamden 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% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Hamden 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% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Vernon and Hamden 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% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
38% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average |
$85,356±$6k 11% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$298,200±$9kHighest 19% below CT |
$275,500±$11k 25% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,425±$77 4% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$5,804 13% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
39.3%±5.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Hamden 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% |
9.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
13.4%±2.5 CT: 16% |
| Hamden 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 | — | #122 of 149 in CT | #107 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Vernon School District |
| High school in town | — | Hamden High School | Rockville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| 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.