Compare towns

Windham vs Willimantic vs Orange

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).
Orange has the highest household income ($142k).

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.

MeasureWindhamWillimanticOrange
People
Population
23,961Highest
18,096
14,315Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.3%
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
33.7±1.9
18% below CT
31.3±2.7Lowest
24% below CT
45.6±2.4Highest
11% above CT
Kids under 18
20.1%±2.4Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±2.5
CT: 20.2%
22.9%±2.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
Orange and Willimantic 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%
23%±2.7Highest
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.7%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
24.2%
CT: 42.5%
59.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
15.2%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
19.1%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.5%±2Lowest
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
$142,325±$10kHighest
49% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$209,800±$9k
43% below CT
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
$491,500±$17kHighest
34% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,107±$69
26% below CT
$1,063±$68Lowest
29% below CT
$2,172±$161Highest
46% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,633Lowest
30% below CT
$4,678
30% below CT
$8,988Highest
35% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±8.1
CT: 52.6%
55.9%±8.1Lowest
CT: 52.6%
64%±12.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
Orange and Windham 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%
3.9%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
47.4%
CT: 66.5%
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
89.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956
11 yrs older than CT
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
1964Highest
3 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
8% below CT
23 minLowest
12% below CT
28 minHighest
4% above CT
Work from home
6.1%±1.7Lowest
CT: 16%
6.2%±2
CT: 16%
15.6%±2.9Highest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #143 of 149 in CT — #38 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS — Orange School District · Regional School District 05
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.