Compare towns
Windham vs Prospect vs Monroe vs Mansfield
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 affordable homes ($210k median).
Prospect has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
Monroe has the most expensive homes ($503k median).
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 | Prospect | Monroe | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,961 |
9,458Lowest |
18,949 |
25,358Highest |
| Median age | 33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
| Prospect and Monroe 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% |
21.4%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Monroe and Prospect 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% |
24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.3% CT: 42.5% |
57.3% CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
$157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,602±$104 8% above CT |
| Prospect and Mansfield 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 |
$6,504 about the CT average |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$5,727 14% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 20.7% CT: 10% |
3.2% CT: 10% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.5% CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
57.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #143 of 149 in CT | #50 of 149 in CT | #48 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 16 | Monroe School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Masuk High School | E. O. Smith High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
11.8 |
| 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.