Compare towns
Preston vs Willimantic vs Windham vs Voluntown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Preston has the most people working from home (10.3%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Preston | Willimantic | Windham | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,821 |
18,096 |
23,961Highest |
2,604Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
48.3±1.7Highest 18% above CT |
| Voluntown and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5Lowest 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+ | 23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
26.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest 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 | $116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$55,736±$5k 42% below CT |
$101,964±$25k 6% above CT |
| Preston and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$209,800±$9k 43% below CT |
$356,100±$16k about the CT average |
| Preston and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$1,166±$191 22% below CT |
| Preston and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,749 29% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$4,955Highest 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3Lowest 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 | 2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
20.7% CT: 10% |
7.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
47.4% CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1983Highest 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
31 minHighest 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Preston and Voluntown 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | — | #143 of 149 in CT | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.