Compare towns
Willimantic vs Bethlehem vs Mansfield vs South Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Bethlehem has the highest household income ($109k).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
South Windham has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Willimantic | Bethlehem | Mansfield | South Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,096 |
3,423 |
25,358Highest |
1,281Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | -2.7%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7 24% below CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
39.4±16.3 4% below CT |
| Bethlehem and South Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
28.4%±10Highest CT: 20.2% |
| South Windham and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±5.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and South Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2% CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±5.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
$75,045±$16k 22% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
$214,100±$50k 42% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,341±$133 10% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,678 30% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$5,727 14% below CT |
$4,491Lowest 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
30.9%±34.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
10.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.6% CT: 10% |
19.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
57.3% CT: 66.5% |
80%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 14 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1945Lowest 22 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±8.4 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #82 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | — | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | E. O. Smith High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.8 |
— |
| 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.