Compare towns
Willimantic vs Killingly vs Ellington 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 renters (65.1% rent).
Ellington has the most kids (24% under 18).
Columbia has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
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 | Ellington | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,096Highest |
17,867 |
16,455 |
5,300Lowest |
| 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 |
40.9±2.4 about the CT average |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
| Columbia and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington 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% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest 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% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
$127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
| Ellington and Columbia 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 |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
| Ellington and Columbia 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 |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,678 30% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,751Highest about the CT average |
$5,228 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Ellington 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% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
72.2% CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Ellington 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 | #46 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ellington School District | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | — | Killingly High School | Ellington High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.