Compare towns
West Haven vs Willimantic vs Windsor Locks vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Haven has the most expensive homes ($292k median).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Windsor Locks has the most homeowners (77.1%).
Manchester has the highest household income ($87k).
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 | West Haven | Willimantic | Windsor Locks | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 55,351 |
18,096 |
12,579Lowest |
59,635Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 35.8±1.5 13% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
41.4±2.6Highest about the CT average |
37±1.2 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Windsor Locks and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.5% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.6%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,382±$5k 22% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$86,840±$4kHighest 9% below CT |
| Manchester and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,700±$9kHighest 20% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$247,100±$6k 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,442±$43 3% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,519±$66Highest about the CT average |
| Manchester and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941Highest 4% above CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$5,652 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.1% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
10.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.6% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
56.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1962Highest 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below CT |
23 minHighest 12% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
23 min 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.4 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Manchester 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 | #120 of 149 in CT | — | #109 of 149 in CT | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | New Haven School District · West Haven School District | — | Windsor Locks School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | West Haven High School | — | Windsor Locks High School | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.6Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.