Compare towns
Windham vs Putnam vs Union vs Willimantic
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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 | Putnam | Union | Willimantic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,961Highest |
9,292 |
944Lowest |
18,096 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
| Union and Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest 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%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.7% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest 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 |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$88,958±$14kHighest 7% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
| Union and Putnam 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 |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$330,400±$26kHighest 10% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$1,149±$44Highest 23% below CT |
— | $1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
| Putnam and Windham 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 |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,793Highest 28% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Union 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% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.4% CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #143 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Putnam School District | Union School District | — |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Putnam High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.