Compare towns
Willimantic vs Thompson vs Mansfield 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 kids (20.6% under 18).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Columbia has the highest household income ($127k).
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 | Thompson | Mansfield | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,096 |
9,337 |
25,358Highest |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7 24% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
| Thompson and Columbia 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% |
11.4%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Thompson 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% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
| Columbia and Thompson 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 |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Columbia and Mansfield 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 |
$1,012±$344 32% below CT |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,678 30% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,727Highest 14% below CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.6% CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
57.3% CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6 CT: 16% |
| Mansfield and Columbia 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 | — | #130 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Thompson School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | — | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | E. O. Smith High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
11.8Highest |
— |
| 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.