Compare towns
Windham vs Shelton vs Willimantic vs West Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shelton has the most expensive homes ($453k median).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
West Haven has the shortest commute (23 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 | Shelton | Willimantic | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,961 |
41,889 |
18,096Lowest |
55,351Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
+2.3% CT: +0.9% |
0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
44.5±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
35.8±1.5 13% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and West Haven 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% |
21.4%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
30.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±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 |
$108,185±$11kHighest 13% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$74,382±$5k 22% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,800±$9k 43% below CT |
$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$291,700±$9k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,442±$43 3% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$5,409 19% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$6,941Highest 4% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±9.8 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 20.7% CT: 10% |
6.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
14.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.4% CT: 66.5% |
76.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
50.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1959 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below CT |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #143 of 149 in CT | #71 of 149 in CT | — | #120 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Shelton School District | — | New Haven School District · West Haven School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Shelton High School | — | West Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
14.3 |
— | 15.6Highest |
| 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.