Compare towns

Willimantic vs Killingly vs Columbia vs Windham

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 most people working from home (21.6%).

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.

MeasureWillimanticKillinglyColumbiaWindham
People
Population
18,096
17,867
5,300Lowest
23,961Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%
CT: +0.9%
— — —
Median age
31.3±2.7Lowest
24% below CT
39.5±3
4% below CT
51.3±10.3Highest
25% above CT
33.7±1.9
18% 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%±4.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20.1%±2.4
CT: 20.2%
Willimantic and Windham 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%
14.3%±1.9
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%
CT: 42.5%
34.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
22.7%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.1%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
4.8%±2.5Lowest
CT: 7.1%
15.2%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
Willimantic and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$127,000±$30kHighest
33% above CT
$55,736±$5k
42% 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
$209,800±$9k
43% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,063±$68
29% below CT
$1,044±$141
30% below CT
$966±$304Lowest
35% below CT
$1,107±$69Highest
26% below CT
Windham and Willimantic 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
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$5,228Highest
21% below CT
$4,633
30% 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%
57.1%±8.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
Windham and Willimantic 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%
6.1%Lowest
CT: 10%
20.7%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
83.3%Highest
CT: 66.5%
47.4%
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
1956
11 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
12% below CT
28 min
5% above CT
32 minHighest
21% above CT
24 min
8% below CT
Work from home
6.2%±2
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
21.6%±6Highest
CT: 16%
6.1%±1.7Lowest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #136 of 149 in CT #114 of 149 in CT #143 of 149 in CT
School district — Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Columbia School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS
High school in town — Killingly High School None in town Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Highest
—
9.8Lowest
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.