Compare towns
Willimantic vs Thompson vs 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).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Thompson | Windham | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,096 |
9,337 |
23,961Highest |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
33.7±1.9 18% 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%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Windham 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% |
24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9 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% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Willimantic and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$55,736±$5k 42% 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 |
$209,800±$9k 43% below CT |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$1,012±$344 32% below CT |
$1,107±$69Highest 26% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Windham and Willimantic 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 |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$5,228Highest 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Willimantic 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% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
20.7% CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
47.4% CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Thompson 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | — | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
9.8Highest |
— |
| 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.