Compare towns
Willimantic vs Thomaston vs Killingly vs Norwich
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).
Thomaston has the highest household income ($103k).
Killingly has the most people working from home (11.1%).
Norwich has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
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 | Thomaston | Killingly | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,096 |
7,492Lowest |
17,867 |
39,973Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | -0.9%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
41.5±7.7Highest about the CT average |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
| Thomaston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Norwich 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% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Thomaston 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% |
34%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
23.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$103,218±$15kHighest 8% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$65,024±$5k 32% below CT |
| Thomaston and Killingly 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 |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$288,600±$15kHighest 21% below CT |
$242,300±$11k 34% below CT |
| Killingly and Thomaston 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 |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,253±$68Highest 16% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,678 30% below CT |
$5,915Highest 11% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,703 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Norwich 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% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
16.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
53.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT |
1957 10 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Highest CT: 16% |
7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
| Killingly and Thomaston 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 | — | #106 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Thomaston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | — | Thomaston High School | Killingly High School | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
11.1 |
14.8Highest |
| 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.