Compare towns
Willimantic vs Washington vs Groton
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 affordable homes ($191k median).
Washington has the most people working from home (20.1%).
Groton has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Washington | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,096Highest |
3,676Lowest |
9,490 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | -9.6%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
39±3.7 5% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Washington 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
38.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$101,549±$16kHighest 6% above CT |
$79,577±$8k 17% below CT |
| Washington and Groton 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 |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$306,600±$26k 16% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
$1,250±$98Highest 16% below CT |
| Groton and Washington 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 |
$4,709Highest 29% below CT |
$4,411Lowest 34% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
46.5%±11.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Groton 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% |
9%Lowest CT: 10% |
18.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79%Highest CT: 66.5% |
45.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below CT |
26 minHighest 4% below CT |
18 minLowest 34% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
4.8%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #17 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | — | Regional School District 12 | — |
| High school in town | — | Shepaug Valley School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.1 |
— |
| 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.