Compare towns
Willimantic vs Hampton vs Middletown 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 affordable homes ($191k median).
Hampton has the most homeowners (90%).
Columbia has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
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 | Middletown | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,096 |
1,647Lowest |
47,958Highest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | +0.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
| Hampton and Columbia 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% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Hampton 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% |
16.5%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton and Columbia 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% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
40.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
| Columbia and Hampton 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 |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,446±$45Highest about the CT average |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Middletown 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 |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$6,412Highest 3% below CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Hampton 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% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
12% CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
52.9% CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1980 13 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Hampton 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 | — | — | #121 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Hampton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Middletown High School | None in town |
| 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.