Compare towns

Willimantic vs Killingly vs West Haven

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).
Killingly has the most homeowners (71.6%).
West Haven has the shortest commute (23 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.

MeasureWillimanticKillinglyWest Haven
People
Population
18,096
17,867Lowest
55,351Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%Highest
CT: +0.9%
—
0%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
Median age
31.3±2.7Lowest
24% below CT
39.5±3Highest
4% below CT
35.8±1.5
13% below CT
Killingly and West Haven 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%±2.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20.3%±1.9
CT: 20.2%
Willimantic and West Haven 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%
16%±1.3
CT: 18.5%
Killingly and West Haven 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%
30.5%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.1%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9Lowest
CT: 7.1%
13.6%±1.6
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
$84,350±$8kHighest
12% below CT
$74,382±$5k
22% below CT
Killingly and West Haven 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
$291,700±$9kHighest
20% below CT
West Haven and Killingly 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±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,442±$43Highest
3% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,678
30% below CT
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$6,941Highest
4% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.9%±8.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
CT: 52.6%
53.4%±5.8
CT: 52.6%
Willimantic and West Haven 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%Lowest
CT: 10%
14.1%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%Highest
CT: 66.5%
50.6%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
1968Highest
1 yr newer than CT
1959
8 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
12% below CT
28 minHighest
5% above CT
23 minLowest
14% below CT
Work from home
6.2%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3Highest
CT: 16%
9.2%±1.4
CT: 16%
Killingly and West Haven 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 #120 of 149 in CT
School district — Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS New Haven School District · West Haven School District
High school in town — Killingly High School West Haven High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Lowest
15.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.