Compare towns
Willimantic vs Hampton vs Franklin 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 renters (65.1% rent).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
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 | Hampton | Franklin | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,096 |
1,647Lowest |
2,004 |
25,358Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7 24% below CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$109,167±$19kHighest 14% above CT |
$105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
$72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
| Hampton and Franklin 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 |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
$335,400±$20kHighest 9% below CT |
| Mansfield and Franklin 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 |
$1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
| Mansfield and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,678 30% below CT |
$4,364 34% below CT |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
$5,727Highest 14% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
21.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.1% CT: 66.5% |
57.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #45 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Hampton School District | Franklin School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | E. O. Smith High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.8 |
| 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.