Compare towns
Willimantic vs Preston vs Mansfield 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 affordable homes ($191k median).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Columbia has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
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 | Preston | Mansfield | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,096 |
4,821Lowest |
25,358Highest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7 24% below CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
| Columbia and Preston 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% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Preston 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%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Preston 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% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
| Columbia and Preston 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 |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
| Preston 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 |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Mansfield and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$5,727Highest 14% below CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.6% CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
57.3% CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6 CT: 16% |
| Mansfield and Columbia 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 | — | #93 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Preston School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | E. O. Smith High School | None in town |
| 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.