Compare towns
Manchester vs Willimantic vs Windham vs Glastonbury
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).
Glastonbury has the highest household income ($157k).
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 | Glastonbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 59,635Highest |
18,096Lowest |
23,961 |
35,293 |
| 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±1.3Highest 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
21.6%±2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Glastonbury and Willimantic 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% |
20.9%±1.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.5% CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
68.6%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% |
5.5%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$157,192±$14kHighest 64% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,100±$6k 33% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$209,800±$9k 43% below CT |
$445,200±$17kHighest 21% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,519±$66 about the CT average |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$1,700±$138Highest 14% above CT |
| Glastonbury and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,652 15% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$9,409Highest 42% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.1%±6.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
55%±9.9 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% |
3.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.9% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
47.4% CT: 66.5% |
83.2%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 |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
24 minHighest 8% below CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
23.7%±2.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #135 of 149 in CT | — | #143 of 149 in CT | #24 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 | Capitol Region Education Council · Glastonbury School District |
| High school in town | Manchester High School | — | Windham High School | Glastonbury High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | 9.8Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| 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.