Compare towns
Lisbon vs Willimantic vs Windham vs Preston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lisbon has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Lisbon | Willimantic | Windham | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,211Lowest |
18,096 |
23,961Highest |
4,821 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 44.5±5.2 8% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
| Preston and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±6.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Lisbon and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 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 | $92,708±$12k 3% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$55,736±$5k 42% below CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
| Preston and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,700±$26k 14% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$209,800±$9k 43% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
| Preston and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,044Lowest 39% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$4,749Highest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Lisbon and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
20.7% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
47.4% CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.4 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Preston and Lisbon 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 | #102 of 149 in CT | — | #143 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Lisbon School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Preston 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.