Compare towns
Willimantic vs Putnam vs Danielson vs Vernon
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).
Putnam has the most homeowners (59.8%).
Danielson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1951).
Vernon has the most people working from home (13.4%).
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 | Putnam | Danielson | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,096 |
9,292 |
4,209Lowest |
30,577Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | +2.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
34.5±3.6 16% below CT |
39.4±2.5 4% below CT |
| Putnam and Vernon 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% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±6.1 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Danielson 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% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
13.6%±4.9 CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Vernon and Putnam 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% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
11.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
38%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
9.2%±6.6 CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$64,050±$15k 33% below CT |
$85,356±$6kHighest 11% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$224,600±$13k 39% below CT |
$275,500±$11kHighest 25% below CT |
| Vernon and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,235±$194 17% below CT |
$1,425±$77Highest 4% below CT |
| Vernon and Danielson 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 |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,009 40% below CT |
$5,804Highest 13% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.7%±17.1 CT: 52.6% |
39.3%±5.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Danielson 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% |
11.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.1% CT: 10% |
13.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53% CT: 66.5% |
53.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 14 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1951Lowest 16 yrs older than CT |
1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
28 minHighest 7% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
6.6%±5.3 CT: 16% |
13.4%±2.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Vernon and Putnam 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT | — | #107 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Putnam School District | — | Vernon School District |
| High school in town | — | Putnam High School | — | Rockville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| 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.