Compare towns

Windham vs Chaplin vs Bethany vs Willimantic

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
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.

MeasureWindhamChaplinBethanyWillimantic
People
Population
23,961Highest
2,070Lowest
5,288
18,096
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — — —
+2.3%
CT: +0.9%
Median age
33.7±1.9
18% below CT
43.7±4.8Highest
6% above CT
42.5±2.9
3% above CT
31.3±2.7Lowest
24% below CT
Chaplin and Bethany 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%
15.7%±4.2Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20.3%±5.9
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±2.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
Willimantic and Bethany 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%
20.9%±4.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
17.2%±4.2
CT: 18.5%
11%±1.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Chaplin and Bethany 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%
25.4%
CT: 42.5%
58%Highest
CT: 42.5%
24.2%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
15.2%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
10.1%±6.2
CT: 7.1%
6.8%±3.7Lowest
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
$97,846±$14k
about the CT average
$166,236±$20kHighest
74% above CT
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$209,800±$9k
43% below CT
$255,200±$24k
30% below CT
$418,000±$42kHighest
14% above CT
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,107±$69
26% below CT
$1,473±$275Highest
about the CT average
—
$1,063±$68Lowest
29% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,633
30% below CT
$4,524Lowest
32% below CT
$8,313Highest
25% above CT
$4,678
30% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±8.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
33.6%±27.7
CT: 52.6%
0%±100Lowest
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%
5.4%
CT: 10%
2.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
23.4%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
47.4%
CT: 66.5%
82.9%
CT: 66.5%
97.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956
11 yrs older than CT
1979Highest
12 yrs newer than CT
1970
3 yrs newer than CT
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
8% below CT
32 minHighest
22% above CT
32 min
21% above CT
23 minLowest
12% below CT
Work from home
6.1%±1.7Lowest
CT: 16%
18.1%±10Highest
CT: 16%
12%±5.2
CT: 16%
6.2%±2
CT: 16%
Chaplin and Bethany 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 — #30 of 149 in CT —
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 —
High school in town Windham High School Parish Hill High School None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Highest
7.5Lowest
— —
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.