Compare towns

Franklin vs Suffield vs Union vs Norwich

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Norwich has the most renters (46.2% 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.

MeasureFranklinSuffieldUnionNorwich
People
Population
2,004
15,702
944Lowest
39,973Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — — —
-0.9%
CT: +0.9%
Median age
40.3±4.3
about the CT average
44.5±1.7
8% above CT
49.9±4.3Highest
21% above CT
38.5±1.7Lowest
6% below CT
Union and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
27.2%±5.9Highest
CT: 20.2%
16.2%±2Lowest
CT: 20.2%
16.9%±4.3
CT: 20.2%
20.9%±1.8
CT: 20.2%
Franklin and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.4%±1.9
CT: 18.5%
18.4%±2.2
CT: 18.5%
24.5%±2.6Highest
CT: 18.5%
16.9%±1.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
27.8%
CT: 42.5%
40.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
24%
CT: 42.5%
23.1%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
4.4%±1.2
CT: 7.1%
5%±3.3
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±1.2Highest
CT: 7.1%
Norwich and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$105,000±$10k
10% above CT
$119,472±$13kHighest
25% above CT
$88,958±$14k
7% below CT
$65,024±$5kLowest
32% below CT
Suffield and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$326,200±$20k
11% below CT
$407,500±$26kHighest
11% above CT
$330,400±$26k
10% below CT
$242,300±$11kLowest
34% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$767±$529Lowest
48% below CT
$1,424±$141Highest
4% below CT
—
$1,253±$68
16% below CT
Suffield and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,934Lowest
41% below CT
$6,456Highest
about the CT average
$4,793
28% below CT
$4,703
29% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
19.5%±18.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
51%±4.6
CT: 52.6%
90%±64.7Highest
CT: 52.6%
56.2%±7.2
CT: 52.6%
Union and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.7%
CT: 10%
4.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
5.7%
CT: 10%
16.7%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.1%
CT: 66.5%
86.7%
CT: 66.5%
92.9%Highest
CT: 66.5%
53.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
6 yrs newer than CT
1979Highest
12 yrs newer than CT
1976
9 yrs newer than CT
1957Lowest
10 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the CT average
26 min
3% below CT
32 minHighest
20% above CT
24 minLowest
9% below CT
Work from home
6.8%±2.4Lowest
CT: 16%
18.4%±4.1Highest
CT: 16%
9%±3.7
CT: 16%
7.2%±2
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #57 of 149 in CT — #133 of 149 in CT
School district Franklin School District Suffield School District Union School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District
High school in town None in town Suffield High School None in town Norwich Free Academy
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.9Lowest
—
14.8Highest
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.