Compare towns
Willimantic vs Plainfield vs Windham 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).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
South Windham has the most kids (28.4% 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 | Plainfield | Windham | South Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,096 |
15,141 |
23,961Highest |
1,281Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | -2.7%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
39.4±16.3Highest 4% below CT |
| South Windham and Plainfield 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% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 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% |
16.6%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±5.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Plainfield 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest 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 |
$76,993±$8kHighest 20% below CT |
$55,736±$5k 42% below CT |
$75,045±$16k 22% below CT |
| Plainfield and South Windham 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 |
$272,100±$16kHighest 26% below CT |
$209,800±$9k 43% below CT |
$214,100±$50k 42% below CT |
| Plainfield and South Windham 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 |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$1,341±$133Highest 10% below CT |
| South Windham and Plainfield 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 |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$4,491 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
30.9%±34.2Lowest 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% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
20.7% CT: 10% |
19.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
47.4% CT: 66.5% |
80%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 14 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1945Lowest 22 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
24 min 8% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±8.4Highest CT: 16% |
| South Windham and Plainfield 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — |
| High school in town | — | Plainfield High School | Windham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.