Compare towns
Windham vs Chester vs Willimantic vs Mansfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the oldest population (median age 54).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
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 | Chester | Willimantic | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,961 |
3,825Lowest |
18,096 |
25,358Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
31.3±2.7 24% below CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest 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% |
26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $55,736±$5k 42% below CT |
$109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,800±$9k 43% below CT |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$1,549±$247 4% above CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
| Mansfield and Chester 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 |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$5,727 14% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 20.7% CT: 10% |
11.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
21.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.4% CT: 66.5% |
73.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
57.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below CT |
28 minHighest 7% above CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #143 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT | — | #45 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Chester School District | — | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | — | 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.