Compare towns
Willimantic vs Thompson vs Windham vs New London
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 affordable homes ($191k median).
Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
New London has the shortest commute (19 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.
| Measure | Willimantic | Thompson | Windham | New London |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,096 |
9,337Lowest |
23,961 |
27,625Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | -0.9%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
34.7±2.1 16% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
16.6%±2.5 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
15%±1.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2% CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
13.3%±1.6 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 |
$93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average |
$55,736±$5k 42% below CT |
$59,098±$5k 38% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
$209,800±$9k 43% below CT |
$253,300±$23k 31% below CT |
| Thompson and New London are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$1,340±$51Highest 10% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,678 30% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$4,977Highest 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.2%±5.3Lowest 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% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
20.7% CT: 10% |
21.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
47.4% CT: 66.5% |
36.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 14 yrs older than CT |
1963Highest 4 yrs older than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1945Lowest 22 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
19 minLowest 28% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±2.3 CT: 16% |
| Thompson and New London 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 | — | #130 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT | #147 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Interdistrict School for Arts and Comm District · New London School District |
| High school in town | — | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Windham High School | New London High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
9.8 |
13.6Highest |
| 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.