Compare towns

Windham vs Baltic vs Willimantic vs Mansfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Baltic has the oldest population (median age 37.8).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureWindhamBalticWillimanticMansfield
People
Population
23,961
1,157Lowest
18,096
25,358Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-5.1%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
+2.3%Highest
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
33.7±1.9
18% below CT
37.8±15.8Highest
8% below CT
31.3±2.7
24% below CT
21.2±0.2Lowest
48% below CT
Baltic and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.1%±2.4
CT: 20.2%
15.5%±10.8
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±2.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
9.2%±1.6Lowest
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+
14.3%±1.9
CT: 18.5%
15.6%±5.2Highest
CT: 18.5%
11%±1.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
11%±1.5Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Baltic and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.7%
CT: 42.5%
16.1%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
24.2%
CT: 42.5%
57.9%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
15.2%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
0.5%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
19.1%±2.1
CT: 7.1%
57%±2.5Highest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$55,736±$5k
42% below CT
$68,958±$47k
28% below CT
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
$72,393±$12kHighest
24% below CT
Mansfield and Baltic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$209,800±$9k
43% below CT
$196,200±$27k
47% below CT
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
$335,400±$20kHighest
9% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,107±$69
26% below CT
$1,247±$141
16% below CT
$1,063±$68Lowest
29% below CT
$1,602±$104Highest
8% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,633
30% below CT
$3,799Lowest
43% below CT
$4,678
30% below CT
$5,727Highest
14% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±8.1
CT: 52.6%
29.3%±13.7Lowest
CT: 52.6%
55.9%±8.1
CT: 52.6%
76%±9.6Highest
CT: 52.6%
Below poverty line
20.7%
CT: 10%
11.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
23.4%Highest
CT: 10%
21.6%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
47.4%
CT: 66.5%
37.8%
CT: 66.5%
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
57.3%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956
11 yrs older than CT
1938Lowest
29 yrs older than CT
1953
14 yrs older than CT
1976Highest
9 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
8% below CT
28 minHighest
6% above CT
23 min
12% below CT
21 minLowest
22% below CT
Work from home
6.1%±1.7
CT: 16%
5.2%±4.6Lowest
CT: 16%
6.2%±2
CT: 16%
28.3%±3.3Highest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #143 of 149 in CT — — #45 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS — — Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District
High school in town Windham High School — — E. O. Smith High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Lowest
— —
11.8Highest
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.