Compare towns
Windham vs Bantam vs Mansfield vs Willimantic
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bantam has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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.
| Measure | Windham | Bantam | Mansfield | Willimantic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,961 |
810Lowest |
25,358Highest |
18,096 |
| 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 |
47.2±15.7Highest 15% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
31.3±2.7 24% below CT |
| Bantam 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% |
18.8%±6.5 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest 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% |
25.4%±8.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
26.2% CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $55,736±$5k 42% below CT |
— | $72,393±$12kHighest 24% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
| Mansfield and Windham 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 |
$317,700±$40k 13% below CT |
$335,400±$20kHighest 9% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
| Mansfield and Bantam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$688±$106Lowest 54% below CT |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,633 30% below CT |
$3,984Lowest 40% below CT |
$5,727Highest 14% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
57.3%±12.9 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield and Bantam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 20.7% CT: 10% |
14.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.6% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.4% CT: 66.5% |
49.1% CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
16%±7.9 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 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.