Compare towns
Willimantic vs Warren 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).
Warren has the most expensive homes ($450k median).
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 | Warren | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,096Highest |
1,415Lowest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
52±5Highest 27% above CT |
51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
| Warren 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% |
11.2%±3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.8%±6.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Warren and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
55.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
10.6%±9 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Willimantic and Warren 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 |
$134,583±$33kHighest 41% above CT |
$127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
| Warren 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 |
$450,000±$38kHighest 23% above CT |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$68Highest 29% below CT |
— | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Willimantic and Columbia 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 |
$3,769Lowest 43% below CT |
$5,228Highest 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.2%±63.8 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Warren 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% |
6.7% CT: 10% |
6.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
15.9%±2.7 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Warren 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 | — | — | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Regional School District 20 | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.