Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Windham vs Willimantic vs Southbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the most expensive homes ($693k median).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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 | Bridgewater | Windham | Willimantic | Southbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,658Lowest |
23,961Highest |
18,096 |
20,071 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
54.2±2.4 32% above CT |
| Bridgewater and Southbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±3.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 37%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
33%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Bridgewater and Southbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
51.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±5.3 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.1Lowest 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 | $159,365±$5kHighest 66% above CT |
$55,736±$5k 42% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$112,887±$8k 18% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $693,000±$75kHighest 89% above CT |
$209,800±$9k 43% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$411,600±$18k 12% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,467±$233 about the CT average |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,935±$277Highest 30% above CT |
| Southbury and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,869Highest 3% above CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$6,240 6% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±43Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
49.2%±4.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest CT: 10% |
20.7% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
47.4% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 25.2%±5Highest CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
20.3%±3.9 CT: 16% |
| Bridgewater and Southbury 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 | — | #143 of 149 in CT | — | #36 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — | Regional School District 15 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | — | Pomperaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
— | 10.9Highest |
| 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.