Compare towns

Windham vs Mansfield vs Willimantic

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 oldest population (median age 33.7).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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.

MeasureWindhamMansfieldWillimantic
People
Population
23,961
25,358Highest
18,096Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+2.3%
CT: +0.9%
Median age
33.7±1.9Highest
18% below CT
21.2±0.2Lowest
48% below CT
31.3±2.7
24% below CT
Windham and Willimantic 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%
9.2%±1.6Lowest
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%±1.9Highest
CT: 18.5%
11%±1.5Lowest
CT: 18.5%
11%±1.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Windham and Mansfield 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%
57.9%Highest
CT: 42.5%
24.2%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
15.2%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
57%±2.5Highest
CT: 7.1%
19.1%±2.1
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$55,736±$5k
42% below CT
$72,393±$12kHighest
24% below CT
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
Mansfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$209,800±$9k
43% below CT
$335,400±$20kHighest
9% below CT
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,107±$69
26% below CT
$1,602±$104Highest
8% above CT
$1,063±$68Lowest
29% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,633Lowest
30% below CT
$5,727Highest
14% below CT
$4,678
30% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±8.1
CT: 52.6%
76%±9.6Highest
CT: 52.6%
55.9%±8.1Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Below poverty line
20.7%Lowest
CT: 10%
21.6%
CT: 10%
23.4%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
47.4%
CT: 66.5%
57.3%Highest
CT: 66.5%
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956
11 yrs older than CT
1976Highest
9 yrs newer than CT
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minHighest
8% below CT
21 minLowest
22% below CT
23 min
12% below CT
Work from home
6.1%±1.7Lowest
CT: 16%
28.3%±3.3Highest
CT: 16%
6.2%±2
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #143 of 149 in CT #45 of 149 in CT —
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District —
High school in town Windham High School E. O. Smith High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Lowest
11.8Highest
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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.