Compare towns
Willington vs Columbia vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Willington has the youngest population (median age 37.5).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Putnam has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
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 | Willington | Columbia | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,575 |
5,300Lowest |
9,292Highest |
| Median age | 37.5±7.2Lowest 9% below CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Columbia and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±4.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±6.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.6%±6.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,114±$12k 5% below CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Columbia and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $305,800±$48k 17% below CT |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Columbia and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,357±$116Highest 9% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,419Highest 18% below CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 70%±20.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 13%Highest CT: 10% |
6.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64% CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.7 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #104 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Willington School District | Columbia School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.