What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Britain has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).

Norwich has the most homeowners (53.8%).

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	New Britain	Norwich
People
Population	74,223Highest	39,973Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.3%Highest CT: +0.9%	-0.9%Lowest CT: +0.9%
Median age	34.3±1.2Lowest 17% below CT	38.5±1.7Highest 6% below CT
Kids under 18	22%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2%	20.9%±1.8Lowest CT: 20.2%
	New Britain and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.6%±1.1Lowest CT: 18.5%	16.9%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5%
	Norwich and New Britain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.6%Lowest CT: 42.5%	23.1%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.4%±1Highest CT: 7.1%	5.6%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,613±$2kLowest 39% below CT	$65,024±$5kHighest 32% below CT
	Norwich and New Britain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$223,600±$6kLowest 39% below CT	$242,300±$11kHighest 34% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,253±$45 16% below CT	$1,253±$68 16% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,846Highest 12% below CT	$4,703Lowest 29% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.2%±4.6Lowest CT: 52.6%	56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6%
	Norwich and New Britain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.1%Highest CT: 10%	16.7%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	45.1%Lowest CT: 66.5%	53.8%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT	1957Highest 10 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 19% below CT	24 minHighest 9% below CT
Work from home	8%±1.4Highest CT: 16%	7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16%
	New Britain 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	#149 of 149 in CT	#133 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Capitol Region Education Council	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District
High school in town	New Britain High School	Norwich Free Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	16.2Highest	14.8Lowest
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.