Compare towns
Willimantic vs Orange 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).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
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.
| Measure | Willimantic | Orange | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,096Highest |
14,315 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
| Columbia and Orange 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% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange 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% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
| Orange 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 |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange 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% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Orange 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 | — | #38 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.