Compare towns
Willimantic vs Hampton vs Sterling 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).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Hampton | Sterling | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,096 |
1,647Lowest |
3,629 |
23,961Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2% CT: 42.5% |
29.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 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 |
$109,167±$19kHighest 14% above CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$55,736±$5k 42% below CT |
| Hampton and Sterling 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 |
$295,800±$27kHighest 19% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$209,800±$9k 43% below CT |
| Hampton and Sterling 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 |
$1,285±$288Highest 14% below CT |
— | $1,107±$69 26% below CT |
| Hampton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,678Highest 30% below CT |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest 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% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
20.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
47.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1980 13 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Hampton and Sterling 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 | — | — | #119 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Hampton School District | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 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.