Compare towns

Franklin vs Willimantic vs Windham vs Voluntown

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Voluntown has the most people working from home (8.9%).

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.

MeasureFranklinWillimanticWindhamVoluntown
People
Population
2,004Lowest
18,096
23,961Highest
2,604
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.3%
CT: +0.9%
— —
Median age
40.3±4.3
about the CT average
31.3±2.7Lowest
24% below CT
33.7±1.9
18% below CT
48.3±1.7Highest
18% above CT
Kids under 18
27.2%±5.9Highest
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±2.5
CT: 20.2%
20.1%±2.4
CT: 20.2%
16.4%±3.5Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Franklin and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.4%±1.9
CT: 18.5%
11%±1.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
14.3%±1.9
CT: 18.5%
17.6%±3Highest
CT: 18.5%
Voluntown and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
27.8%Highest
CT: 42.5%
24.2%
CT: 42.5%
22.7%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
26.7%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
19.1%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
15.2%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
3.4%±1.6Lowest
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
$105,000±$10kHighest
10% above CT
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
$55,736±$5k
42% below CT
$101,964±$25k
6% above CT
Franklin and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$326,200±$20k
11% below CT
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
$209,800±$9k
43% below CT
$356,100±$16kHighest
about the CT average
Voluntown and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$767±$529Lowest
48% below CT
$1,063±$68
29% below CT
$1,107±$69
26% below CT
$1,166±$191Highest
22% below CT
Voluntown and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,934Lowest
41% below CT
$4,678
30% below CT
$4,633
30% below CT
$4,955Highest
25% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
19.5%±18.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
55.9%±8.1
CT: 52.6%
57.1%±8.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
42.9%±24.3
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
8.7%
CT: 10%
23.4%Highest
CT: 10%
20.7%
CT: 10%
7.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.1%Highest
CT: 66.5%
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
47.4%
CT: 66.5%
83.5%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
6 yrs newer than CT
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
1956
11 yrs older than CT
1983Highest
16 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the CT average
23 minLowest
12% below CT
24 min
8% below CT
31 minHighest
18% above CT
Work from home
6.8%±2.4
CT: 16%
6.2%±2
CT: 16%
6.1%±1.7Lowest
CT: 16%
8.9%±5.4Highest
CT: 16%
Voluntown and Franklin 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 #53 of 149 in CT
School district Franklin School District — Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Voluntown 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.