Compare towns

Willimantic vs Killingly vs Bolton vs New London

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).
Bolton has the most people working from home (20.7%).
New London has the shortest commute (19 min average).

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.

MeasureWillimanticKillinglyBoltonNew London
People
Population
18,096
17,867
4,853Lowest
27,625Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%Highest
CT: +0.9%
— —
-0.9%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
Median age
31.3±2.7Lowest
24% below CT
39.5±3
4% below CT
43.7±3.3Highest
6% above CT
34.7±2.1
16% below CT
Bolton and Killingly 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%
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
20%±3.6
CT: 20.2%
16.6%±2.5Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Willimantic and Bolton 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%
19.7%±2.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±3.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
15%±1.8
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24.2%
CT: 42.5%
22.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
51.3%Highest
CT: 42.5%
28.5%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.1%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9Lowest
CT: 7.1%
7.7%±2.6
CT: 7.1%
13.3%±1.6
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$126,364±$19kHighest
32% above CT
$59,098±$5k
38% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$367,600±$17kHighest
about the CT average
$253,300±$23k
31% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,063±$68
29% below CT
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,127±$55
24% below CT
$1,340±$51Highest
10% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,678
30% below CT
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$8,091Highest
22% above CT
$4,977
25% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.9%±8.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
39.8%±30.8Lowest
CT: 52.6%
53.2%±5.3
CT: 52.6%
Willimantic and New London 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%
11.4%
CT: 10%
7.2%Lowest
CT: 10%
21.6%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
88%Highest
CT: 66.5%
36.1%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1953
14 yrs older than CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1969Highest
2 yrs newer than CT
1945Lowest
22 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
12% below CT
28 minHighest
5% above CT
25 min
6% below CT
19 minLowest
28% below CT
Work from home
6.2%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
20.7%±4.6Highest
CT: 16%
11.6%±2.3
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #136 of 149 in CT #79 of 149 in CT #147 of 149 in CT
School district — Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Bolton School District Interdistrict School for Arts and Comm District · New London School District
High school in town — Killingly High School Bolton High School New London High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1
7.4Lowest
13.6Highest
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.