Compare towns
Willimantic vs Suffield vs South Windham 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).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
South Windham has the most kids (28.4% 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 | Suffield | South Windham | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,096Highest |
15,702 |
1,281Lowest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | -2.7%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
39.4±16.3 4% below CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
| Columbia and Suffield 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% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
28.4%±10Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| South Windham 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% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±5.2 CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Suffield 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% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±5.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$75,045±$16k 22% below CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
| Columbia and Suffield 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 |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$214,100±$50k 42% below CT |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,341±$133 10% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Suffield and South Windham 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 |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$4,491Lowest 32% below CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
30.9%±34.2 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Suffield 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% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
19.4% CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
80% CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 14 yrs older than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1945Lowest 22 yrs older than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
11.1%±8.4 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Suffield 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 | — | #57 of 149 in CT | — | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Suffield School District | — | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | — | Suffield High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— | — |
| 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.