Compare towns
Sandy Hook vs Willimantic vs Windham vs Southbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandy Hook has the highest household income ($161k).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Southbury has the oldest population (median age 54.2).
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 | Sandy Hook | Willimantic | Windham | Southbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,863Lowest |
18,096 |
23,961Highest |
20,071 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.1±3 5% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
54.2±2.4Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±3.1Lowest 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+ | 14.4%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
33%±2.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.1Lowest 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 | $160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$55,736±$5k 42% below CT |
$112,887±$8k 18% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$209,800±$9k 43% below CT |
$411,600±$18k 12% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,866±$439 25% above CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$1,935±$277Highest 30% above CT |
| Southbury and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$6,240 6% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
49.2%±4.3Lowest 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 | 5.6% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
20.7% CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
47.4% CT: 66.5% |
88.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
20.3%±3.9 CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook and Southbury 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 | — | — | #143 of 149 in CT | #36 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 15 |
| High school in town | — | — | Windham High School | Pomperaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.9Highest |
| 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.