Compare towns
Windham vs Bristol 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
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Bristol has the most homeowners (64.9%).
New London has the most renters (63.9% rent).
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 | Bristol | New London |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,961Lowest |
61,462Highest |
27,625 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-0.9%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
37.9±1.5Highest 8% below CT |
34.7±2.1 16% below CT |
| Bristol and New London are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.6%±2.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
15%±1.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Bristol and New London are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±0.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
13.3%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Windham and New London are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$79,076±$6kHighest 17% below CT |
$59,098±$5k 38% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$277,800±$8kHighest 24% below CT |
$253,300±$23k 31% below CT |
| Bristol and New London are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,338±$45 10% below CT |
$1,340±$51Highest 10% below CT |
| New London and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$5,449Highest 18% below CT |
$4,977 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.5%±5.9 CT: 52.6% |
53.2%±5.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.7% CT: 10% |
10.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.4% CT: 66.5% |
64.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
36.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1967Highest same as CT |
1945Lowest 22 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 8% below CT |
24 min 11% below CT |
19 minLowest 28% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
11.6%±2.3Highest CT: 16% |
| New London and Bristol 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #115 of 149 in CT | #147 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Bristol School District | Interdistrict School for Arts and Comm District · New London School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Bristol Central High School | New London High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
14.0Highest |
13.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.