Compare towns
Windham vs Sandy Hook 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).
Sandy Hook has the highest household income ($161k).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
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 | Sandy Hook | Mansfield | South Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,961 |
9,863 |
25,358Highest |
1,281Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -2.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
43.1±3Highest 5% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
39.4±16.3 4% below CT |
| Sandy Hook 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% |
22.6%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
28.4%±10Highest CT: 20.2% |
| South Windham and Sandy Hook 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% |
14.4%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±5.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| South Windham and Sandy Hook 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% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
57.9% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 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 |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
$75,045±$16k 22% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
$214,100±$50k 42% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
$1,602±$104 8% above CT |
$1,341±$133 10% below CT |
| Sandy Hook and Mansfield 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$5,727 14% below CT |
$4,491Lowest 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
30.9%±34.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 20.7% CT: 10% |
5.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
19.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
57.3% CT: 66.5% |
80% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1945Lowest 22 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±8.4 CT: 16% |
| Mansfield and Sandy Hook 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 | — | #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 |
— |
| 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.