Compare towns

Willimantic vs Providence vs Windham vs Groton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Providence has the most people working from home (14.3%).
Windham has the most homeowners (47.4%).
Groton has the shortest commute (18 min average).

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.

MeasureWillimanticProvidenceWindhamGroton
People
Population
18,096
191,767Highest
23,961
9,490Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-9.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
31.3±2.7Lowest
20% below U.S.
32.8±0.5
16% below U.S.
33.7±1.9
13% below U.S.
39±3.7Highest
about the U.S. average
Groton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±1
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Willimantic and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
11%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
11.6%±0.7
U.S.: 17.2%
14.3%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
16.2%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Groton and 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
38.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
14.4%±0.8
U.S.: 6.4%
15.2%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
43% below U.S.
$68,119±$3k
16% below U.S.
$55,736±$5k
31% below U.S.
$79,577±$8kHighest
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$190,900±$17kLowest
43% below U.S.
$362,200±$8kHighest
9% above U.S.
$209,800±$9k
37% below U.S.
$306,600±$26k
8% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,063±$68Lowest
25% below U.S.
$1,408±$42Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,107±$69
22% below U.S.
$1,250±$98
12% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,678Highest
50% above U.S.
$4,418
42% above U.S.
$4,633
49% above U.S.
$4,411Lowest
41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.9%±8.1
U.S.: 51.1%
48%±2.8
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.5%±11.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
20.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
20.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
18.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
34.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
41.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
47.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
45.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1953
27 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1956
24 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
12% below U.S.
25 minHighest
5% below U.S.
24 min
8% below U.S.
18 minLowest
34% below U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±2
U.S.: 15.1%
14.3%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.1%±1.7
U.S.: 15.1%
4.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #36 of 38 in RI #143 of 149 in CT —
School district — MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS —
High school in town — Classical High School Windham High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
17.2Highest
9.8Lowest
—
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U.S. 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.