Compare towns
Windham vs Orange vs Willimantic vs New London
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the highest household income ($142k).
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
New London has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Orange | Willimantic | New London |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,961 |
14,315Lowest |
18,096 |
27,625Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-0.9%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
34.7±2.1 16% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
16.6%±2.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange 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% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
15%±1.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
13.3%±1.6 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 |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$59,098±$5k 38% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,800±$9k 43% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$253,300±$23k 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,340±$51 10% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,977 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
53.2%±5.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 20.7% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
21.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.4% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
36.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1964Highest 3 yrs older than CT |
1953 14 yrs older than CT |
1945Lowest 22 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
19 minLowest 28% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
11.6%±2.3 CT: 16% |
| Orange and New London 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | — | #147 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | — | Interdistrict School for Arts and Comm District · New London School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | — | New London High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | — | 13.6Highest |
| 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.