Compare towns
Windham vs Willimantic vs Chaplin 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
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
West Haven has the most expensive homes ($292k median).
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 | Willimantic | Chaplin | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,961 |
18,096 |
2,070Lowest |
55,351Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
35.8±1.5 13% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and West Haven 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 CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
30.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Lowest 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 |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$97,846±$14kHighest about the CT average |
$74,382±$5k 22% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,800±$9k 43% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$291,700±$9kHighest 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,442±$43 3% below CT |
| Chaplin and West Haven 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 |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$6,941Highest 4% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8 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% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
14.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.4% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1959 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and West Haven 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 | — | — | #120 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | New Haven School District · West Haven School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | — | Parish Hill High School | West Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | 7.5Lowest |
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.