Compare towns
Willimantic vs Sandy Hook vs Columbia vs Mansfield
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).
Sandy Hook has the most expensive homes ($501k median).
Columbia has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
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 | Sandy Hook | Columbia | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,096 |
9,863 |
5,300Lowest |
25,358Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7 24% below CT |
43.1±3 5% above CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
| Columbia and Sandy Hook 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% |
22.6%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sandy Hook 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% |
14.4%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
57.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
$72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
| Sandy Hook 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 |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,602±$104 8% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Mansfield 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
$5,727 14% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
21.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
57.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
| Mansfield and Sandy Hook 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 | — | — | #114 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | — | Columbia School District | 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.