Compare towns
Manchester vs Willimantic vs Windham vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Manchester has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Bolton has the most homeowners (88%).
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 | Manchester | Willimantic | Windham | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 59,635Highest |
18,096 |
23,961 |
4,853Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±1.2 10% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
43.7±3.3Highest 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
20%±3.6Lowest 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+ | 15.5%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±3.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bolton and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.5% CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±2.6 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 | $86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$55,736±$5k 42% below CT |
$126,364±$19kHighest 32% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,100±$6k 33% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$209,800±$9k 43% below CT |
$367,600±$17kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,519±$66Highest about the CT average |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$1,127±$55 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,652 15% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$8,091Highest 22% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±30.8Lowest 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 | 10.8% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
20.7% CT: 10% |
7.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.9% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
47.4% CT: 66.5% |
88%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 5 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1969Highest 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
25 minHighest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Bolton and Manchester 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 | #135 of 149 in CT | — | #143 of 149 in CT | #79 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Bolton School District |
| High school in town | Manchester High School | — | Windham High School | Bolton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 9.8 |
7.4Lowest |
| 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.