Compare towns
Willimantic vs Lyme vs Mansfield vs Groton
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).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($630k median).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Groton has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Lyme | Mansfield | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,096 |
2,303Lowest |
25,358Highest |
9,490 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | -9.6%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7 24% below CT |
55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
39±3.7 5% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Groton 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% |
30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
57.9% CT: 42.5% |
38.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$135,000±$22kHighest 41% above CT |
$72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
$79,577±$8k 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
$306,600±$26k 16% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,719±$1kHighest 16% above CT |
$1,602±$104 8% above CT |
$1,250±$98 16% below CT |
| Lyme and Mansfield 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 |
$7,328Highest 10% above CT |
$5,727 14% below CT |
$4,411Lowest 34% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
46.5%±11.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.6% CT: 10% |
18.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
57.3% CT: 66.5% |
45.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
21 min 22% below CT |
18 minLowest 34% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
27.6%±10 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
4.8%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Mansfield and Lyme 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 | — | — | #45 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | — | Regional School District 18 | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | E. O. Smith High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.8 |
— |
| 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.