Compare towns
Windham vs Cheshire vs Willimantic
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cheshire has the most people working from home (19.1%).
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.
| Measure | Windham | Cheshire | Willimantic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,961 |
29,040Highest |
18,096Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
44.9±1.4Highest 9% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Cheshire and Willimantic 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% |
21.3%±1.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
60.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$146,528±$12kHighest 53% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,800±$9k 43% below CT |
$440,000±$17kHighest 20% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$1,398±$116Highest 6% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$7,755Highest 17% above CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±6.3Lowest 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%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.4% CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
19.1%±2.7Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #143 of 149 in CT | #18 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Cheshire School District | — |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Cheshire High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.