Compare towns
Windham vs Willimantic vs Sterling vs Ansonia
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).
Sterling has the most homeowners (81.1%).
Ansonia has the oldest population (median age 40.1).
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 | Sterling | Ansonia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,961Highest |
18,096 |
3,629Lowest |
19,033 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | -1.7%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
40.1±1.6Highest about the CT average |
| Ansonia and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.3%±2.8Lowest 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%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8 CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Ansonia and Windham 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% |
24.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.8 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 |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$85,877±$10k 10% below CT |
| Sterling and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,800±$9k 43% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$287,200±$14kHighest 22% below CT |
| Ansonia and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
— | $1,476±$121Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,633 30% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
$5,446Highest 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.7%±10 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% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.4% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
58.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1954 13 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
9.1%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Sterling and Ansonia 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 | #142 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | — | None in town | Emmett O'Brien Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | — | 12.2Highest |
| 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.