Compare towns
Willimantic vs Chaplin vs Vernon vs 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).
Chaplin has the most homeowners (82.9%).
Vernon has the most expensive homes ($276k median).
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 | Chaplin | Vernon | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,096 |
2,070Lowest |
30,577Highest |
23,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
39.4±2.5 4% below CT |
33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
| Chaplin and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±2 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 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+ | 11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Vernon 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% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
38%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8 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 | $45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$97,846±$14kHighest about the CT average |
$85,356±$6k 11% below CT |
$55,736±$5k 42% below CT |
| Chaplin and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$275,500±$11kHighest 25% below CT |
$209,800±$9k 43% below CT |
| Vernon and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,425±$77 4% below CT |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
| Chaplin and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,678 30% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$5,804Highest 13% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.3%±5.7 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest 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 | 23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.4% CT: 10% |
20.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.2% CT: 66.5% |
47.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
24 min 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
13.4%±2.5 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Vernon 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 | — | — | #107 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Vernon School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | — | Parish Hill High School | Rockville High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
12.1Highest |
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.