Compare towns
Franklin vs Willimantic vs Colebrook 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).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Norwich has the most people working from home (7.2%).
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 | Franklin | Willimantic | Colebrook | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,004 |
18,096 |
1,494Lowest |
39,973Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | -0.9%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.8% CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
36.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$111,250±$17kHighest 16% above CT |
$65,024±$5k 32% below CT |
| Colebrook 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 |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$342,800±$19kHighest 7% below CT |
$242,300±$11k 34% below CT |
| Colebrook and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$1,333±$626Highest 10% below CT |
$1,253±$68 16% below CT |
| Colebrook 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 |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$6,211Highest 7% below CT |
$4,703 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Norwich and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
16.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 6 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1960 7 yrs older than CT |
1957 10 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.8%±2.4 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
7%±3.8 CT: 16% |
7.2%±2Highest CT: 16% |
| Norwich and Colebrook 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 | — | — | — | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Franklin School District | — | Colebrook School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 14.8 |
| 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.