Compare towns
Meriden vs Norwich vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meriden has the most people working from home (8.6%).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($242k median).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k 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.
| Measure | Meriden | Norwich | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 60,545Highest |
39,973 |
23,961Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-0.9%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 38.9±1.3Highest 5% below CT |
38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
| Meriden and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Norwich and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
23.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,253±$4kHighest 26% below CT |
$65,024±$5k 32% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
| Meriden and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $241,200±$7k 34% below CT |
$242,300±$11kHighest 34% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
| Norwich and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,294±$72Highest 13% below CT |
$1,253±$68 16% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
| Meriden and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,129Highest 23% below CT |
$4,703 29% below CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±4.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
16.7% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.8% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Highest 7 yrs older than CT |
1957 10 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
24 minHighest 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 8.6%±1.6Highest CT: 16% |
7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Meriden and Norwich 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 | #124 of 149 in CT | #133 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Francis T. Maloney High School | Norwich Free Academy | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
14.8 |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.