Compare towns
Windham vs Sterling vs Willimantic
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most people working from home (11.6%).
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 | Sterling | Willimantic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,961Highest |
3,629Lowest |
18,096 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
39.4±5.9Highest 4% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
| Sterling and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Windham and Sterling 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% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,800±$9k 43% below CT |
$283,400±$17kHighest 23% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$69Highest 26% below CT |
— | $1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
| Windham and Willimantic 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 |
$4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
$4,678Highest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 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% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.4% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
| Sterling and Willimantic 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District | — |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.