Tolland 

The historical county seat of Tolland County, Tolland, is a charming town of approximately 14,190, encompassing an area of 40.3 square miles. This thriving community has continued to grow while maintaining its delightful village quality. Tolland has extensive state forests, municipal parks, and recreational areas, while at the center of the town is Tolland Green, a national historic district. The Green features an old-fashioned penny candy and antiques store; the town's original 19th century town hall; the 'Old Tolland Jail' museum; the 'Tolland Inn' bed and breakfast; and the Hicks-Stearns Museum. The town is also home to the allegedly haunted 'Benton Homestead'.  

A family-oriented town, Tolland offers a desirable mix of both rural and urban qualities, attracting residents and businesses alike. The landscape of Tolland is primarily composed of large houses on one-acre plots. Conveniently located a short drive from the state capital, there is easy access to commercial and cultural centers. The town provides a strong transportation network, a well managed local government, an excellent educational system and high quality rural living. Boasting a low unemployment rate of 2.4%, many of Tolland’s residents work in Hartford, or for the University of Connecticut in Storrs.  

Ashford 

With a growing population of approximately 4,354, Ashford is located in Windham County northern Connecticut, covering an area of 39.5 square miles. Originally purchased from Indians, the early settlement was located on the main road between Hartford and Boston, optimizing quick development. After the War of 1812, several carding, woolen, and tin factories were established. The town exudes a special New England country charm, with its scenic countryside, farms, open meadows, and well-maintained historical homes. The town boasts a rich history, steady growth, and a low 2.2% unemployment level. Notably, Ashford is home to Connecticut’s largest Boy Scout camp, as well as Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. 

Willimantic 

Willimantic is a city of 19,040 located in the town of Windham, in Windham County, with a total area of 4.5 square miles. Willimantic was consolidated with the town of Windham in 1983. The American Thread Company had a mill in Willimantic on the banks of the Willimantic River, and was at one time Connecticut’s largest employer as well as one of the largest producers of thread in the world. Accordingly, the town became known as one of the finest manufacturers of thread outside of England and was dubbed the “Thread City.” Willimantic is home to Eastern Connecticut State University, as well as the Windham Textile and History Museum. Willimantic’s frog legend is well known, as is its Boom Box Parade. The town even has its own local currency called “Thread City Bread”, which can be used at a number of local businesses. Another recent tradition is “Third Thursday” street festivals. On each month’s third Thursday during spring and summer, a large section of Main Street is closed to traffic for a street fair which boasts performers, community groups, food vendors, and about 6,000 locals.  

Windham 

With a population of approximately 22,857 Windham is a town in Windham County, central east Connecticut. Windham contains the city of Willimantic and the villages of Windham Center, North Windham and South Windham, in a total area of approximately 27.9 square miles. It was incorporated in 1692, and quickly took advantage of the Willimantic River as a source of waterpower for saw and gristmills. In later years, the town was dominated by the thread and textile industries. This is a community with a proud history and delightful New England charm, yet moving toward the future, providing all the amenities of a city. Windham provides a unique mix of industry and agriculture, while sitting between two state universities and boasting more privately owned Victorian homes per capita than San Francisco. Windham is a great place to raise a family and build a thriving business.  

Hampton 

Hampton is a small rural farming community of 2,489 in Windham County, with an area of 25.5 square miles. The town was incorporated from the towns of Brooklyn, Pomfret, Canterbury, Mansfield, and Windham in 1786. The Nipmuck Trail, which was used by Nipmuck and Mohegan Indians before the arrival of migrants, runs the entire length of the town. The Congregational Church, which was built in 1754, is the second oldest building in the state. Also in Hampton are, "The House the Women Built," a building dating back to 1776, and a liberty pole dating from 1849, which records the distance to Hartford and other towns. This well-preserved rustic community is just an hour from Providence, Hartford, and Connecticut's scenic coast on Long Island Sound.  

Coventry 

Boasting a population of approximately 12,412, Coventry is a semi-rural town located in Tolland County. Established in 1711 and encompassing 38.4 square miles of woods and old farmlands, Coventry is known as "the gateway to Northeastern Connecticut's Quiet Corner". The town is rich with historic sites, antique shops, art galleries, an auction gallery, an herb farm, a vineyard, two public beaches and a boat launch on Lake Wangumbaug. You can find plenty of inviting places to dine and relax here. Coventry is the birthplace of Nathan Hale, Connecticut’s official State Hero, and home to the historic Nathan Hale farmstead, a museum open to the public. Coventry's W.L. Wellwood General Store was originally erected in 1787 and is believed to be one of the oldest such establishments in the country. Although the town’s industry and growth slowed by the late 20th century, Coventry now flourishes as a residential community with tourism as its economic base. South Coventry Village, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has preserved the illustrious past of the town's earliest settlement. You can participate in any number of festivities throughout the year, such as CoventryFest, Captain Hale’s Birthday Party, and Colonial Encampment and Muster. Lake Wangumbaug is popular for boating, fishing and water sports, and the town also is home to two 18-hole public golf courses. 

Columbia 

Columbia is a rural town in Tolland County with a population of approximately 5,348 and an area of 22 square miles. Incorporated in 1804, this close-knit community in eastern-central Connecticut demonstrates both civic pride and spirit. The town offers easy access to the nearby cities of Manchester, Hartford, and Norwich, making it an ideal home for commuters. Residents enjoy best of the New England country charm as well as the availability of all the amenities of urban living. For recreation, Columbia has a pristine and beautiful lake as well as top-notch youth programs. The town's recreation park includes a unique multi-aged playscape, soccer and baseball fields and tennis courts. With low taxes, great schools, an outstanding library, and a thriving civic life, it doesn’t get much better than this.