Compare towns
Windham vs Smithfield vs Willimantic vs New London
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
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 | Smithfield | Willimantic | New London |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,961 |
22,233 |
18,096Lowest |
27,625Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±1.9 13% below U.S. |
41.8±2.6Highest 7% above U.S. |
31.3±2.7Lowest 20% below U.S. |
34.7±2.1 11% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Willimantic and Smithfield 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 31% below U.S. |
$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$45,962±$7kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$59,098±$5k 27% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,800±$9k 37% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$190,900±$17kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$253,300±$23k 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$69 22% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,063±$68 25% below U.S. |
$1,340±$51Highest 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,633Lowest 49% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,678 50% above U.S. |
$4,977 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.2%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 20.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
23.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
36.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | — | #147 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Smithfield | — | Interdistrict School for Arts and Comm District · New London School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Smithfield High School | — | New London High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.8 |
— | 13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.