Compare towns
Windham vs Derby vs Mansfield vs South Windham
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 renters (52.6% rent).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
South Windham has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Derby | Mansfield | South Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,961 |
12,487 |
25,358Highest |
1,281Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | -2.7%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
39.4±16.3 4% below CT |
| Derby and South Windham 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% |
14.6%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
28.4%±10Highest CT: 20.2% |
| South Windham 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% |
21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±5.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Derby and South 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% CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$79,500±$11kHighest 17% below CT |
$72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
$75,045±$16k 22% below CT |
| Derby and South Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$335,400±$20kHighest 9% below CT |
$214,100±$50k 42% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,341±$133 10% below CT |
| Mansfield and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,633 30% below CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
$5,727Highest 14% below CT |
$4,491Lowest 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
30.9%±34.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 20.7% CT: 10% |
10.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
19.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
57.3% CT: 66.5% |
80%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1945Lowest 22 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±8.4 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #143 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Derby School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Derby High School | E. O. Smith High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
9.7Lowest |
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.