Compare towns

Cornwall vs Windham vs Willimantic vs Sharon

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cornwall has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Sharon has the oldest population (median age 59.5).

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.

MeasureCornwallWindhamWillimanticSharon
People
Population
1,425Lowest
23,961Highest
18,096
2,723
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+2.3%
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
53.9±5.1
31% above CT
33.7±1.9
18% below CT
31.3±2.7Lowest
24% below CT
59.5±6Highest
45% above CT
Sharon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.9%±2.8
CT: 20.2%
20.1%±2.4
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±2.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
7.2%±3.2Lowest
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+
29.4%±2.5
CT: 18.5%
14.3%±1.9
CT: 18.5%
11%±1.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
37.9%±9.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
Sharon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.1%Highest
CT: 42.5%
22.7%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
24.2%
CT: 42.5%
56.8%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±3
CT: 7.1%
15.2%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
19.1%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.5%±2.5Lowest
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
$128,864±$34kHighest
35% above CT
$55,736±$5k
42% below CT
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
$100,518±$15k
5% above CT
Cornwall and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$554,600±$106k
51% above CT
$209,800±$9k
43% below CT
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
$590,700±$156kHighest
61% above CT
Sharon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,047±$121Lowest
30% below CT
$1,107±$69
26% below CT
$1,063±$68
29% below CT
$1,750±$1kHighest
18% above CT
Sharon and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,792Highest
13% below CT
$4,633
30% below CT
$4,678
30% below CT
$4,484Lowest
33% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.8%±31.9Lowest
CT: 52.6%
57.1%±8.1
CT: 52.6%
55.9%±8.1
CT: 52.6%
64%±16.2Highest
CT: 52.6%
Sharon and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.2%Lowest
CT: 10%
20.7%
CT: 10%
23.4%Highest
CT: 10%
10.8%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%Highest
CT: 66.5%
47.4%
CT: 66.5%
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
72.5%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959Highest
8 yrs older than CT
1956
11 yrs older than CT
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
1954
13 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
13% above CT
24 min
8% below CT
23 minLowest
12% below CT
30 min
13% above CT
Work from home
32.4%±13.6Highest
CT: 16%
6.1%±1.7Lowest
CT: 16%
6.2%±2
CT: 16%
18.7%±6.8
CT: 16%
Cornwall and Sharon 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 — —
School district Cornwall School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS — Sharon School District
High school in town None in town Windham High School — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.8
— —
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.