What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).

Norwich has the most affordable homes ($242k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Durham	Norwich
People
Population	7,208Lowest	39,973Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-0.9% CT: +0.9%
Median age	45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT	38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT
Kids under 18	16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2%	20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2%
	Norwich and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5%	16.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Durham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.9%Highest CT: 42.5%	23.1%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1%	5.6%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1%
	Norwich and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT	$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT	$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT	$1,253±$68Highest 16% below CT
	Norwich and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,998Highest 20% above CT	$4,703Lowest 29% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6%	56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6%
	Norwich and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest CT: 10%	16.7%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.2%Highest CT: 66.5%	53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT	1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below CT	24 minHighest 9% below CT
Work from home	20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16%	7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#88 of 149 in CT	#133 of 149 in CT
School district	Regional School District 13	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District
High school in town	Coginchaug Regional High School	Norwich Free Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	8.9Lowest	14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.