Compare towns
Windham vs Sterling vs Union 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).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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 | Sterling | Union | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,961 |
3,629 |
944Lowest |
25,358Highest |
| Median age | 33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling 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% |
13%±3.8 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.7% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
$72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
| Sterling and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
$335,400±$20kHighest 9% below CT |
| Mansfield and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
— | — | $1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,633 30% below CT |
$4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
$5,727Highest 14% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 20.7% CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
57.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #143 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | — | #45 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District | Union School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town | 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.