Compare towns

Mansfield vs Windham vs Willimantic

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 most people working from home (28.3%).
Windham has the oldest population (median age 33.7).
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.

MeasureMansfieldWindhamWillimantic
People
Population
25,358Highest
23,961
18,096Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+2.3%
CT: +0.9%
Median age
21.2±0.2Lowest
48% below CT
33.7±1.9Highest
18% below CT
31.3±2.7
24% below CT
Windham and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
9.2%±1.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20.1%±2.4
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±2.5Highest
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+
11%±1.5Lowest
CT: 18.5%
14.3%±1.9Highest
CT: 18.5%
11%±1.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Windham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
57.9%Highest
CT: 42.5%
22.7%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
24.2%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
57%±2.5Highest
CT: 7.1%
15.2%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
19.1%±2.1
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$72,393±$12kHighest
24% below CT
$55,736±$5k
42% below CT
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
Mansfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$335,400±$20kHighest
9% below CT
$209,800±$9k
43% below CT
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,602±$104Highest
8% above CT
$1,107±$69
26% below CT
$1,063±$68Lowest
29% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,727Highest
14% below CT
$4,633Lowest
30% below CT
$4,678
30% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
76%±9.6Highest
CT: 52.6%
57.1%±8.1
CT: 52.6%
55.9%±8.1Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Below poverty line
21.6%
CT: 10%
20.7%Lowest
CT: 10%
23.4%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
57.3%Highest
CT: 66.5%
47.4%
CT: 66.5%
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
9 yrs newer than CT
1956
11 yrs older than CT
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
22% below CT
24 minHighest
8% below CT
23 min
12% below CT
Work from home
28.3%±3.3Highest
CT: 16%
6.1%±1.7Lowest
CT: 16%
6.2%±2
CT: 16%
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
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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.