Compare towns

Windham vs Sutton vs Lancaster vs Willimantic

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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.

MeasureWindhamSuttonLancasterWillimantic
People
Population
23,961Highest
9,452
8,606Lowest
18,096
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
33.7±1.9
13% below U.S.
44.3±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
43.1±4.9
11% above U.S.
31.3±2.7Lowest
20% below U.S.
Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.1%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±2.5Highest
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%
18.8%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
11%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Lancaster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
24.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
15.2%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
19.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
31% below U.S.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% above U.S.
$134,833±$27k
67% above U.S.
$45,962±$7kLowest
43% below U.S.
Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$209,800±$9k
37% below U.S.
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
$519,100±$60k
56% above U.S.
$190,900±$17kLowest
43% below U.S.
Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,107±$69
22% below U.S.
$1,190±$401
16% below U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
$1,063±$68Lowest
25% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,633Lowest
49% above U.S.
$6,763
117% above U.S.
$7,235Highest
132% above U.S.
$4,678
50% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±8.1
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Lancaster and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
20.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
23.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
47.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
34.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956
24 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1953Lowest
27 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
8% below U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
23 minLowest
12% below U.S.
Work from home
6.1%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±2
U.S.: 15.1%
Lancaster and Sutton 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 #105 of 282 in MA #145 of 282 in MA —
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Sutton Nashoba —
High school in town Windham High School Sutton High School None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Lowest
12.6Highest
— —
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.