Compare towns
South Windham vs Suffield vs Willimantic vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Windham has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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 | South Windham | Suffield | Willimantic | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,281Lowest |
15,702 |
18,096Highest |
2,004 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±16.3 4% below CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
| Suffield and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28.4%±10Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
| South Windham and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±5.2 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Suffield and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±5.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,045±$16k 22% below CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
| Suffield and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $214,100±$50k 42% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,341±$133 10% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
| Suffield and South Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,491 32% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±34.2 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.4% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 22 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1953 14 yrs older than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the CT average |
26 min 3% below CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±8.4 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4 CT: 16% |
| Suffield and South Windham 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 | — | #57 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | — | Suffield School District | — | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | — | Suffield High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— | — |
| 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.