Compare towns
Willimantic vs Sterling vs Killingly 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).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Sterling | Killingly | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,096Highest |
3,629Lowest |
17,867 |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
| Columbia and Killingly 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% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling 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% |
13%±3.8 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Killingly 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% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
| Columbia and Sterling 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 |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$68Highest 29% below CT |
— | $1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Willimantic and Killingly 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 |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$5,228Highest 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Killingly 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% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
6.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1984 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Sterling 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 | — | #119 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.