Compare towns
Mansfield vs Sandy Hook vs Willimantic vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Sandy Hook has the highest household income ($161k).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Sandy Hook | Willimantic | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,358Highest |
9,863Lowest |
18,096 |
23,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
43.1±3Highest 5% above CT |
31.3±2.7 24% below CT |
33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Sandy Hook and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Sandy Hook and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.9% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$55,736±$5k 42% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$209,800±$9k 43% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,602±$104 8% above CT |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
| Sandy Hook and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,727 14% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 21.6% CT: 10% |
5.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
20.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
47.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Mansfield and Sandy Hook 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 | #45 of 149 in CT | — | — | #143 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | — | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | E. O. Smith High School | — | — | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
— | — | 9.8Lowest |
| 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.