Compare towns

Windham vs Bristol vs Willimantic

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the most people working from home (11.4%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% 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.

MeasureWindhamBristolWillimantic
People
Population
23,961
61,462Highest
18,096Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+0.6%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
+2.3%Highest
CT: +0.9%
Median age
33.7±1.9
18% below CT
37.9±1.5Highest
8% below CT
31.3±2.7Lowest
24% below CT
Kids under 18
20.1%±2.4Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20.1%±1.7Lowest
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%
16.2%±1.2Highest
CT: 18.5%
11%±1.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Bristol 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%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
30.3%Highest
CT: 42.5%
24.2%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
15.2%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±0.9Lowest
CT: 7.1%
19.1%±2.1Highest
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
$55,736±$5k
42% below CT
$79,076±$6kHighest
17% below CT
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$209,800±$9k
43% below CT
$277,800±$8kHighest
24% below CT
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,107±$69
26% below CT
$1,338±$45Highest
10% below CT
$1,063±$68Lowest
29% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,633Lowest
30% below CT
$5,449Highest
18% below CT
$4,678
30% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±8.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
55.5%±5.9Lowest
CT: 52.6%
55.9%±8.1
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
20.7%
CT: 10%
10.7%Lowest
CT: 10%
23.4%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
47.4%
CT: 66.5%
64.9%Highest
CT: 66.5%
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956
11 yrs older than CT
1967Highest
same as CT
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minHighest
8% below CT
24 min
11% below CT
23 minLowest
12% below CT
Work from home
6.1%±1.7Lowest
CT: 16%
11.4%±1.7Highest
CT: 16%
6.2%±2
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #143 of 149 in CT #115 of 149 in CT —
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Bristol School District —
High school in town Windham High School Bristol Central High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Lowest
14.0Highest
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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.