Compare towns
Willimantic vs Tolland 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).
Tolland has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Columbia has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
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 | Tolland | Windham | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,096 |
14,606 |
23,961Highest |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
41.4±2.5 about the CT average |
33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
| Columbia and Tolland 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% |
22.6%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Tolland 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% |
15.3%±2.1 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2% CT: 42.5% |
56.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
7.4%±2.3 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Lowest 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 |
$133,264±$16kHighest 39% above CT |
$55,736±$5k 42% below CT |
$127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
| Tolland and Columbia 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 |
$365,500±$21kHighest about the CT average |
$209,800±$9k 43% below CT |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
| Tolland and Columbia 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 |
$1,680±$119Highest 13% above CT |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,678 30% below CT |
$7,403Highest 11% above CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Tolland and Windham 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% |
5.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
20.7% CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
47.4% CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1981 14 yrs newer 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% |
20.6%±3.6 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Tolland 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 | — | #60 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Tolland School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | — | Tolland High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.