What stands out worked out from the figures below

Willimantic has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).

South Windham has the most homeowners (80%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Willimantic	South Windham
People
Population	18,096Highest	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	39.4±16.3Highest 4% below CT
	South Windham and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.6%±2.5Lowest 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%	16.5%±5.2Highest CT: 18.5%
	South Windham and Willimantic 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%	18%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1%	4.8%±5.9Lowest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT	$75,045±$16kHighest 22% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT	$214,100±$50kHighest 42% below CT
	South Windham and Willimantic 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	$1,341±$133Highest 10% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,678Highest 30% below CT	$4,491Lowest 32% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6%	30.9%±34.2Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Willimantic and South Windham 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%	19.4%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%	80%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Highest 14 yrs older than CT	1945Lowest 22 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 12% below CT	26 minHighest about the CT average
Work from home	6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16%	11.1%±8.4Highest CT: 16%
	South Windham and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.