Compare towns
Plainfield vs Union 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
Plainfield has the most people working from home (10%).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Union | Willimantic | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
944Lowest |
18,096 |
23,961Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5 10% below CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 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+ | 16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8 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 | $76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$88,958±$14kHighest 7% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$55,736±$5k 42% below CT |
| Union and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$330,400±$26kHighest 10% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$209,800±$9k 43% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
— | $1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
| Plainfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,793Highest 28% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
20.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
47.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Plainfield and Union 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | — | — | #143 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Union School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | — | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
— | — | 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.