Compare towns
Willimantic vs Killingly vs Columbia 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).
Columbia has the highest household income ($127k).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
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 | Killingly | Columbia | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,096 |
17,867 |
5,300Lowest |
25,358Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7 24% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
| Columbia 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% |
13.7%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Killingly 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%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
| Columbia and Mansfield 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 |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,678 30% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
$5,727Highest 14% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
6.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
57.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
| Mansfield and Columbia 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 | — | #136 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Columbia School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District |
| High school in town | — | Killingly High School | None in town | E. O. Smith High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.8Highest |
| 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.