Compare towns
Plainville vs Willimantic vs Windham vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainville has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Bristol has the most expensive homes ($278k median).
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 | Plainville | Willimantic | Windham | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,551Lowest |
18,096 |
23,961 |
61,462Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | +0.6%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
37.9±1.5 8% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±1.7 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+ | 20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±0.9Lowest 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 | $84,343±$7kHighest 12% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$55,736±$5k 42% below CT |
$79,076±$6k 17% below CT |
| Plainville and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14k 31% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$209,800±$9k 43% below CT |
$277,800±$8kHighest 24% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$1,338±$45Highest 10% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798 28% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$5,449Highest 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.5%±5.9 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 | 6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
20.7% CT: 10% |
10.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
47.4% CT: 66.5% |
64.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
24 minHighest 8% below CT |
24 min 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.4%±1.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Bristol and Plainville 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | — | #143 of 149 in CT | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Bristol School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | — | Windham High School | Bristol Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | 9.8Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.